;  T^ 


LOVE    AFLOAT. 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY. 


BY 

F.    H.    SHEPPARD,    U.S.N. 


K.^v4  I  V 


A  man  is  a  golden  impossibility.    The  line  tie  must  walk  lb  a  aaIr*B 
breadth.— Emerson. 


KEW    YORK: 

Sheldon  &  Company, 


677  BROADWAY. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

SHELDON  &  COMPANY, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Consjress.  at  WasUneton. 


1      e    o, 


TO  THE  author's  WISE  COUNSELLOR,  HIS  PAITHPUL  FRIEND,  AND 


HIS  MODEL  OF  COURTESY  AND  HONOR— TO 


EEAR-ADMIRAL  C.  R.  P.  KODGERS,  UNITED   STATES  NAVY, 


THIS  STORY  IS  RESPECTFULLY  AND  AFFECTIONATELY 


INSCRIBED. 


Mil9g4 


LOYE    AFLOAT. 

A    STOKY    OF    THE    AMERICAN    NAYY. 


CHAPTER  L 


THE  period  of  time  at  which  occurred  the  events  now 
to  be  described,  was  during  the  years  when  piracy- 
had  been  carried  so  far  that  the  United  States  govern- 
ment was  obliged  to  keep  a  considerable  naval  force  con- 
stantly cruising  among  the  islands  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
and  the  Caribbean  sea.  Our  commerce  in  those  waters 
had  become  so  feeble,  and  the  lives  of  our  sea-faring  citi- 
zens were  exposed  to  so  much  danger,  that  the  country 
undertook  an  expensive  and  tedious  task  of  years  in  order 
to  restore  strength  to  the  one  and  give  to  the  other  that 
security  which  is  the  birthright  of  America's  children. 

The  work  to  be  performed  was  the  repression  of  piracy  ; 
and  the  government  could  use  only  its  naval  arm  in  the 
undertaking.  The  law  of  nations  forbade  the  employ- 
ment of  the  other.  This  fact,  joined  to  the  languor  of  the 
higher  Spanish  authorities,  the  collusions  of  Spanish  offi- 
cials, and  the  sympathy  of  Spanish  people,  made  the  work 
proceed  but  slowly ;  yet  from  the  beginning  the  end  was 
apparent.  That  thor6ugh-going  practical  officer,  Commo- 
dore David  Porter  of  Essex  fame,  acted  as  controlling  and 
directing  mind;  and  the  country  felt  that  it  was  well 
served.  Unceasing  vigilance,  long  watchful  convoys,  and 
frequent   dashing   expeditions,  which   sometimes   reached 


4  .......      .XQVB- AFLOAT. 

<;  *.  •/':.:  '*..:!    :  /;.     ,* 

the  stiore  m  defiance  alike  of  the  pirates  attacked  and  the 
law  behind  which  they  sought  refuge,  were  the  order  of 
the  day  in  the  efiicieut  squadron  of  small  craft  on  the  sta- 
tion. Beside  the  customarj  demands  of  duty  and  the 
great  stimulus  of  an  unequalled  esprit  de  corps,  each  felt 
that  a  master's  eye  was  watching  him. ,  OflScers  and  men 
strove  to  do  faithful  work,  sure  of  the  reward  of  approbation. 
This  was  our  navy's  Seminole  war.  It  is  a  pity  that 
such  valuable  services  should  be  entirely  forgotten  in  the 
present  day. 

The  time  is  on  a  winter  day  in  1823,  at  sunset  ;  the 
place,  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  on  board  the  old  receiving 
ship  Virginia,  in  a  state-room  whose  open  door  shows  into 
the  more  spacious  ward-room. 

The  ward-room  is  deserted,  except  by  two  black  boys, 
who  are  spreading  a  table  for  supper.  A  large  stove  in 
the  centre  warms  the  apartment  and  the  surrounding  rooms. 
The  lowness  of  the  huge  white  beams  overhead  gives  the 
usual  between-decks  sense  of  confinement,  and  in  the  open 
state-room  the  space  is  still  more  limited.  The  swords  and 
pistols,  the  uniform  suits  hanging  on  the  bulkhead,  the 
pictures,  and  the  professional  books  on  the  shelves,  show 
that  it  is  an  officer's  room;  while  the  choice  and  arrange- 
ment of  these  things  indicate  that  the  occupant  is  a  man 
of  taste  and  refinement.  He  stands  before  you,  Lieutenant 
Henry  Hartley,  at  your  service,  showing  to  advantage 
even  though  engaged  in  tying  the  heavy  cravat  of  the 
period. 

Hartley  is  a  New  Yorker  of  wealthy  family,  a  good- 
looking  fellow,  with  aquiline  features,  olive  complexion, 
dark  curly  brown  hair,  and  clear  brown  eyes.  His  move- 
ments are  quick,  without  being  flurried.  He  advances 
steadily  toward  the  end  at  which  he  is  now  aiming — 
to  be  attired  in  full  dress  for  the  ball  he  means  to  attend 
this  evening.  He  is  of  medium  height  and  build,  appar- 
ently twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight  years  old,  and  alto- 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  6 

gether  a  pleasant-looking  young  man.  Before  long  his 
voice  confirms  a  previous  impression,  and  shows  that  he 
is  not  alone. 

"Where  do  you  think  I  found  my  gloves,  Garnet?" 
he  asks. 

"  Chatham  Street,'*  replies  a  dry  voice,  which  we  dis- 
cover to  come  from  a  man  sitting  comfortably  in  a 
chair  tipped  back  against  the  end  of  the  bureau,  which 
partly  screens  him  from  observation.  He  has  been  gazing 
quietly  out  of  the  port,  at  the  river  gilded  by  the  set- 
ing  sun,  aiid  watching  the  silver  cakes  of  ice  float  past  with 
the  ebb-tide.  He  is  complacently  and  slowly  smoking 
a  lori^-stemmed  pipe,  the  bowl  of  which  is  a  very  suggest 
tive  carving  in  wood  of  the  head  of  the  devil.  In  spite 
of  his  apparent  lack  of  interest,  the  ofiicer  addressed  as 
Garnet  turns  his  head  as  though  expecting  some  expla- 
nation. His  face  at  once  makes  on  us  the  impression  that 
he  is  a  character.  There  is  in  it  a  singular  mixture  of 
expressions.  Honesty,  reserve,  humor,  and  ugliness  are 
apparent,  especially  the  two  last.  We  feel  that  of  Hartley's 
disposition  we  shall  rapidly  learn  more,  and  that  his  in- 
timacy is  obtainable ;  but  that  in  the  first  glance  we  have 
found  out  as  much  of  the  other  as  we  are  likely  to  dis- 
cover in  a  long  time.  However,  we  hgive  a  prepossession 
in  his  favor  as  he  turns  toward  his  friend. 
r*'  Hartley  answers  the  action  rather  than  the  words, 
**  Why,  that  rascal  George  had  them  all.  The  master-at- 
arms  found  them  in  his  bag,  each  pair  wrapped  in  a 
bit  of  dungaree,  and  all  stowed  in  a  trousers'  leg.  I'd  been 
missing  them  for  a  month.  The  fellow  got  leave  to  go 
ashore  to  a  dance  to-night,  and  when  they  searched  him 
there  was  a  black  pair  in  his  pocket.'* 

"  Right  shade,"  replies  the  other. 

Hartley  has  finished  his  toilet  by  this  time,  and,  throw- 
ing on  a  loose  coat,  sits  down  by  his  friend.  The  two  gaze 
quietly  out  upon  the  river,  the  only  sounds  intruding  upon 
their  silence  being  the  distant  hum  of  the  men's  voices,  thQ 


6  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

faint  footfalls  of  the  watch  officer  two  decks  above,  and  the 
nearer  noise  of  Garnet's  slow  puffing  at  his  pipe.  In  a  few 
minutes,  however,  their  current  of  musing  is  interrupted : 
the  unusual  sight  of  a  vessel  moving  down  the  river  among 
the  ice-cakes  attracts  their  attention.  Hartley  throws  open 
the  port  sash,  and  both  lean  out  into  the  nipping  evening 
air,  to  observe  her  well.  The  vessel  is  running  a  great  and 
seemingly  needless  risk  by  coming  owt  with  the  river  full 
of  heavy  ice,  and  this  fact  alone  would  make  hei*  move- 
ments noticeable ;  but  her  beauty  of  form,  and  the  skill 
with  which  she  is  handled,  much  increase  the  interest 
of  our  two  friends.  She  is  a  top-sail  schooner,  somewhat 
like  the  Baltimore  clippers  of  the  time  in  looks,  but  her 
rail  is  lower  and  her  sheer  much  less.  She  carries  two 
boats  inboai'd  in  the  waist.  Her  immensely  long  spars  are 
painted  white  and  black  like  {hose  of  a  man-of-war.  She 
appears  to  be  of  about  one  hundred  tons  burden  ;  but 
as  she  heels  over  to  a  puff  of  wind,  she  shows  a  breadth  of 
beam  which  makes  it  evident  that  the  first  judgment  of  her 
size  was  far  too  small.  She  is  under  top-sail,  jib,  and  main- 
Bail,  all  new  sails.  Everything  about  her  evinces  to  a  sea- 
man that  there  has  been  great  care  and  thoroughness  exer- 
cised in  her  equipment,  and  that  by  some  person  of  knowl- 
edge and  ability.  J^he  elements  of  speed  and  strength 
seem  to  have  been  equally  regarded,  and  more  regarded 
than  appearance,  yet  the  vessel  is  wonderfully  grace- 
ful. Hartley  and  Garnet  watch  her  and  her  move- 
ments, so  lively  and  precise,  with  the  intense  interest 
true  sailors  always  feel  in  any  new  matter  pertaining  to 
their  profession. 

The  little  schooner  moves  with  a  celerity  and  care 
which  are  life-like.  Now  she  darts  close-hauled  through  an 
opening  between  two  masses  of  ice  into  a  space  of  clear 
water;  now,  putting  her  helm  down,  flics  round  in  stays, 
and  runs  into  a  lane  which  promises  to  lead  a  good  way 
down  the  stream.  Finding  only  a  cul-de-sac,  her  top-sail  is 
backed,  her  way  stopped,  and  she  drifts  down  with  the 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAYT.  T 

* 

current.  Now  she  wears  round  on  her  heel,  fills  the  top- 
sail, and  with  sheets  eased  ofi*,  glides  back  toward  the 
Virginia.  Up  to  this  time  she  has  been  above  that  ves- 
sel, and  the  lazy  ebb  has  helped  her  progress  very  little ; 
but  she  apparently  sees  the  strip  of  clear  water  extending 
along  the  Brooklyn  shore,  and  she  comes  swiftly  over 
toward  it,  luffing  to  weather  a  cake  of  ice,  or  keep- 
ing away  to  pass  one,  and  curvetting  and  dancing  like  a 
fairy  craft. 

The  interest  of  the  two  watchers  is  manifest.  Their 
eyes  never  leave  the  approaching  vessel.  Hartley's  enthu- 
siasm is  aroused  plainly  ;  for  he  utters  an  occasional  excla- 
mation at  some  neatly  executed  manoeuvre  or  at  the  stylish 
appearance  of  the  schooner.  Garnet  says  nothing,  but  his 
extinguished  pipe  bears  witness  to  his  thoughts. 

The  schooner  continues  to  approach  until  within  fifty 
yards  of  the  Virginia ;  *when,  having  gained  the  open 
water,  her  helm  is  put  up  and  she  swings  around,  show- 
ing her  broadside. 

"  Do  you  know  her,  Hal  ?  "  asks  Garnet. 

"  Never  saw  her  in  my  life  before." 

"  Yes,  you  have." 

"  Why,"  asked  Hartley,  surprised,  "  is  that  the  big 
centre-board  boat  we  saw  on  the  stocks  in  Harvey's  yard  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  She  doesn't  look  half  as  large  now.'* 

Hartley  referred  to  a  visit  they  had  made,  a  month  pre- 
vious, to  the  ship-yard  of  Harvey,  a  New  York  builder 
whose  models  were  then  famed  for  speed.  They  had  both 
been  much  interested  by  the  elegance  and  proportion  of 
the  vessel  now  before  them.  A  point  which  had  made 
particular  impression  was  her  exceedingly  light  draft.  She 
had  a  centre-board  (a  fitting  unusual  at  that  time,  though 
common  to  us)^  and  her  small  depth  of  hold  was  ob- 
tained by  this  means  in  addition  to  great  breadth  of  beam. 
Hartley  had  been  so  pleased  by  the  model  that  he  asked 
information  as  to  her  ownership  and  future  business  j  but 


'i^; 


8  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

no  one  in  the  yard  could  tell  him  more  than  that  Harvey 
said  she  was  a  pleasure-boat  and  was  well  paid  for. 

As  she  passed  by  the  open  j^ort  a  circumstance  hap- 
pened on  her  deck  which  created  some  surprise  in  the 
minds  of  the  lookers-on.  Her  men  in  sight  were  seven 
in  number.  The  person  apparently  sailing  the  schooner 
was  a  gigantic,  powerfully-built  man,  with  a  shock  of  fiery 
red  hair  and  a  very  florid  face.  Beside  the  man  at  the 
wheel,  there  were  four  seamen,  one  of  whom  was  a  young 
negro.  The  seventh  person  seemed  from  his  dress  and  be- 
havior to  be  a  passenger.  He  stood  by  the  taffrail  apart 
from  the  officer,  and  his  attention  was  as  much  engaged  by 
outside  objects  as  by  what  was  going  on  at  hand  in  the 
schooner.  He  gazed  at  the  Virginia  as  they  passed,  his 
features  being  distinctly  visible  from  their  nearness.  He 
was  a  thick-set,  short-necked  man,  with  broad  shoulders 
and  a  sturdy  appearance.  He  was  dressed  in  a  new  suit 
of  black  broadcloth,  which  fitted  rather  baggily,  but  beyond 
the  fact  that  his  face  was,  if  possible,  even  redder  than  that 
of  the  giant  sailing  the  vessel,  there  was  nothing  remarkable 
about  him.  All  these  details  were  distinctly  seen  as  the 
schooner  swept  by,  then  within  thirty  yards  of  the  port. 
She  had  barely  passed,  when  the  young  negro,  in  attempt- 
ing to  obey  an  order,  let  go  the  peak  halliards.  The  peak 
came  down  by  the  run,  and  the  apparent  passenger,  thun- 
dering out  an  oath,  seized  a  rope's  end,  and  with  violence 
of  manner  and  coarseness  of  language  much  in  contrast 
with  his  j)revious  demeanor  and  respectable  dress,  laid  it 
without  mercy  over  the  head  and  shoulders  of  the  yelling 
negro.  The  giant  rushed  up  hastily  and  placed  his  hand 
on  the  arm  of  the  striker.  He  turned  angrily  at  the  in- 
terruption, and  the  negro,  seizing  the  opportunity,  ran  for- 
ward and  dived  down  the  fore  hatch.  The  giant  spoke  a 
few  words  in  a  low  voice  to  the  passenger,  who  bawled 
back,  "  What  in  hell  do  I  care  ?  "  He  quickly  moderated 
his  passsion,  however,  and  dropping  the  rope's  end  walked 
off  to  his  old  station  by  the  taffrail. 


A  STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  9 

This  little  episode  made  Hartley  look  disgusted,  and 
Garnet  thousrhtful.  The  latter,  after  the  schooner  liad 
passed  out  of  sight  around  the  southern  point  of  the  bay, 
and  the  window  had  been  closed  against  the  eager  outside 
air,  remarked,  "  That  passenger  chap  was  the  captain,  Hal." 

"  He  was  a  brute,  anyhow,"  replied  the  other. 

"  Yes,  a  clotted  brute  ;  but  there's  nothing  surprising 
—queer." 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about  ?" 

"Queer  craft  and  queer  party.  They  were  all  armed. 
The  captain  had  a  pistol  under  his  'long-shore  togs." 

"  Light  your  pipe.  Will.  This  is  the  first  mare's  egg 
you've  :wund  since  you  caught  Paddy  Rourke  playing 
ghost  on  the  orlop  deck." 

Garnet  chuckled  at  some  remembrance,  lighted  the  pipe, 
and  said  no  more  on  the  subject. 

Lieutenants  William  Pinckney  Garnet  and  Henry  Hart- 
ley are — I  had  nearly  said  warm  friends — ^but  close  frieiids 
describes  them  better.  Garnet  is  the  senior  in  years, 
though  Hartley  has  the  advantage  of  a  few  numbers  on  the 
register.  They  entered  the  service  nearly  together:  Garnet, 
a  strong  ugly  lad  from  Virginia,  entirely  the  opposite  in 
his  roughness  and  silence  of  the  conventional,  chivalrous. 
Southern  youth ;  and  Hartley,  a  delicate,  spirited  little 
fellow,  with  so  much  of  high  thought,  purity,  ability,  un- 
compromising devotion  to  his  young  ideals  of  right,  and, 
it  must  be  added,  of  irritability,  that  he  had  no  earthly 
chance  for  popularity  in  a  midshipmen's  mess.  Garnet's 
lack  of  polish  made  him  a  butt  at  once ;  but  he  took  all 
jokes  in  such  a  quiet  way,  seemed  to  understand  and  ap- 
preciate his  messmates  so  well,  showed  such  a  superiority 
over  irifles  and  capacity  for  taking  things  at  their  just 
weight — in  short,  evinced  so  much  savoir  faire,  which  even 
boys  practically  recognize,  that  in  two  weeks  he  was  at 
the  head  of  the  mess,  and  no  one  was  jealous.  Yet  he  had 
no  intimate  friend  for  a  long  time,  and  then  only  one. 

Hartley  was  at  first  let  alone  on  account  of  his  small 
1* 


10  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

size,  but  he,  also,  was  soon  found  out.  His  temper  and 
determination  not  to  be  imposed  on  drew  upon  him  the  at- 
tention of  the  bullying  set — there  was  more  than  one  bully- 
in  a  mess  of  twenty  midshipmen — and  his  strictness  of  con- 
duct, his  high  standard  of  right  and  attempts  to  publicly 
maintain  it,  with  some  detected  lapses  into  poetry,  all  made 
him  an  object  of  persecution  among  the  others.  The  bullies 
discovered  in  due  course  of  time  that  he  was  always  ready 
to  do  his  best  with  his  fists,  and  they  became  not  overfond 
of  attacking  the  little  fellow  who  was  so  quick  to  hit  back 
and  so  hard  to  keep  whipped.  They  learned  to  let  him 
alone.  In  this  they  were  assisted  by  Garnet,  who  came  into 
the  steerage  one  day  to  find  them  "passing  him  round." 
This  operation  consists  in  forming  a  circle  about  one  per- 
son, and  pushing  him  violently  and  continually  from  one  to 
another  as  if  he  were  a  bolster.  It  is  not  particularly  pain- 
ful but  wearisome,  and  very  exasperating.  Hartley,  un- 
able to  strike  a  blow  or  help  himself  in  the  least,  seemed 
about  to  expire  with  wrath.  Garnet  promptly  interfered. 
"  Stop  this  !  Sit  down.  Hartley  !  If  I  find  any  of  you  fellows 
troubling  him  again,  I'll  report  you  to  the  First  Lieutenant, 
and  you'll  be  quarantined  in  Rio.''  The  threat  was  was  very 
effectual.  When  the  discreet  crowd  had  left  the  steerage, 
and  Hartley's  feelings  had  overcome  him  in  nervous  tears, 
of  which  he  was  so  much  ashamed  that  he  begged  Garnet 
to  excuse  him,  the  cheering  word  was,  "  All  right,  young- 
ster. Nothing  to  be  ashamed  of.  Wait  till  you  get  fat." 
Hartley  always  afterward  dated  back  the  commencement 
of  his  friendship  for  Garnet  to  that  speech. 

Hartley  was  devoted  to  his  unexpected  friend  after  this, 
feeling  a  constant  desire  to  serve  him  and  do  him  honor ; 
and  Garnet,  pleased  by  things  in  the  other  which  wer^  com- 
monly disregarded  or  laughed  at,  the  recognition  of  which 
proved  a  certain  nobility  in  his  own  character,  returned 
a  great  kindness.  He  watched  over  the  little  fellow  as 
if  he  were  a  trust.  He  gave  him  many  a  quiet  hint,  eagerly 
caught  up;  taught  him,  unconsciously  almost  to  the  teacher, 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  11 

and  as  a  consequence  of  the  teacher's  bent  of  mind,  to 
look  less  within  himself,  observing  rather  the  character- 
istics of  others  ;  and  made  him,  though  sometimes  very- 
unwilling,  pay  attention  to  the  details  of  his  profession 
till  gradually  an  interest  was  acquired.  The  youngster 
then,  turning  his  good  mind  in  the  right  direction,  soon 
learned  as  much  as  his  teacher  knew,  and  got  a  reputation 
among  his  superior  officers  as  a  quick  and  promising  mid- 
shipman. At  the  same  time  he  was  gaining  happiness  in 
another  way.  He  was  finding  out  how  to  conduct  himself 
toward  equals,  and  was  becoming  tolerated  and  liked.. 
His  old-time  bullies  came  to  respect  him. 

Garnet's  life  had  been  sorrowful.  He  went  to  sea  at 
what  was  then  the  very  late  age  of  seventeen.  His  family 
was  a  good  one ;  but  loss  of  property  and  the  early  death  of 
his  father  had  left  him  without  means  of  education  or  culti- 
vation. His  mother's  poverty  acted  doubly,  keeping  him 
out  of  company  and  out  of  school.  He  seemed  to  feel  his 
position,  and  lost  no  chance  of  making  or  saving  money, 
so  as  to  benefit  her.  When  he  was  sixteen  she  died,  and 
the  sad  boy  was  taken  into  the  house  of  a  great-uncle 
whom  he  had  never  seen.  This  relative  had  wealth,  influ- 
ence, and  a  pretty  daughter  of  winsome  disposition  who 
was  about  a  year  older  than  her  cousin.  The  great-uncle 
sent  Will  to  a  day-school,  where  he  applied  himself  steadily 
to  make  up  for  lost  time ;  and  the  daughter  gave  her 
cousin  the  only  sympathy  he  had  yet  received.  It  was  not 
surprising  that  he  slipped  into  love  with  his  sweet  consoler. 
He  did  so,  without  knowing  what  the  new  emotion  was. 
His  devotion  to  "  Cousin  Susan "  became  intense  and 
plain  to  all;  and  she  seemed  to  her  friends  to  be  truly 
touched  herself,  contrary  to  the  rule  in  these  cases.  The 
uncle  finally  became  alarmed,  and  to  get  rid  of  the  trouble- 
some nephew,  procured  him  a  midshipman's  warrant,  and 
had  him  ordered  to  sea  in  the  first  ship  fitting  out.  Be- 
fore he  left  the  house  he  was  informed  that  a  glorious 
career  had  been  opened  to  him,  and  that  it  would  be  blacl; 


12  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

ingratitude  for  him  to  write  to  Susan.  He  promised 
proudly,  and  quietly:  "  I  won't  write  to  Cousin  Susan  if 
you  don't  want  me  to."  He  did  not  even  try  to  bid  her 
good-by  apart,  but  went  to  sea  resolved  to  become  some- 
body and  return  for  her.  Before  his  return  ehe  had  married 
and  gone  to  another  part  of  the  State  to  live.  He  never 
saw  her  again. 

All  of  this  history  was  revealed  to  Hartley  one  night,  in 
a  first  watch  in  the  harbor  of  Genoa,  after  the  two  had 
been  messmates  several  years.  Garnet  stopped  in  his  walk 
and  looked  above  his  head  at  the  brilliant  sky. 

"  Look  at  Lyra,"  he  said. 

"  Yes — what  of  it  ?  "  replied  Hartley. 

"  You  see  the  bright  star  at  the  angle  ?" 

"Yes." 

*'  I  had  a  notion,  when  I  was  a  little  bit  of  a  chap  in 
old  Virginny,  that  when  I  grew  up  I'd  have  two  wives." 

"What!  at  once?" 

"  Yes,  at  once.  I  thought  the  bright  star  was  I,  and 
the  others  my  two  wives.  When  I  got  older  I  knew  a 
girl — welV,  I  thought  for  awhile  she  was  the  bright  star 
herself.  I  used  to  laugh  at  my  early  ideas  then.  By  and 
by  I  got  to  hoping  my  sweetheart  would  take  me  into 
heaven  alongside  of  her,  and  I  fancied  the  two  lower  stars 
would  represent  us  very  well  and  that  Alpha  hadn't 
anything  to  do  with  it.  And  now,  my  boy— I  think  so 
now.  I  am  Alpha  myself,  that  bright  particular  star,  alone 
in  his  glory." 

While  Hartley  was  astonished  at  such  an  unheard- 
of  poetical  crank  from  his  friend,  he  felt  that  it  must  have 
been  evoked  by  some  strong  memory  ;  and  a  little  encour- 
agement sufficed  to  draw  from  Garnet  the  story  we  have 
told.     The  confidence  deepened  their  friendship. 

The  efiect  of  the  passing  years  was  different  upon  the 
men.  Hartley  had  gained  in  all  respects.  His  fine  mind 
had  grown,  reaching  out  tenacious  filaments,  seizing  and 
drawing  in  food  from  men  and  books.     He  had  a  reputation 


A   STORY   OF   THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  13 

throughout  the  service  for  ability  as  an  officer ;  and  his  cour- 
age was  undoubted.  In  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the 
day  he  had  accepted  several  challenges  to  fight  duels;  but 
always  naming  jDistols  as  the  weapons,  and  always  firing  in 
the  air,  he  had  come  to  be  considered  a  person  privileged, 
and  not  to  be  challenged.  His  conversation  was  agreeable 
and  his  manner  graceful,  though  too  nervous  to  be  called 
perfect.  He  had  learned  the  French  and  Spanish  languages, 
beside  keeping  up  the  Latin  of  his  boyhood,  and  on  subjects 
of  general  interest  he  was  well  informed.  In  dress  he  was 
particular  to  a  fault. 

Perhaps  as  good  a  test  of  his  usefulness  as  any  other 
was  the  manner  in  which  his  subordinates  spoke  of  him  and 
obeyed  his  commands.  The  old  salts  would  say,  "Mr. 
Hartley  knows  what  he's  about.  He's  strict,  but  he  ain't 
got  no  favorites  ; "  and  the  younger  seamen,  "  I  want  to  be 
in  Mr.  Hartley's  watch  on  deck  reefing  with  the  watch.  He 
knows  how  to  lay  a  yard  with  the  sail  liftin'  to  your  hand." 
Or  they  would  declare  with  enthusiasm,  "  It  was  pretty  to 
see  him  shorten  sail  to  a  squall." 

He  was  a  restless,  useful  young  man,  anxious  to  learn, 
interested  in  anything  which  might  appear,  full  of  high 
principle,  always  ready  to  go  out  of  himself  in  sympathy, 
having  many  so-called  friends,  and  with  an  influence  extend- 
ing in  every  direction.  He  was  growing.  Already  the 
tree  was  tall  enough  for  a  landmark,  and  it  yearly  increased 
in  height,  in  symmetry,  and  in  the  spread  of  its  far-reaching 
branches. 

Yet  in  this  fine  character  there  was  a  defect.  Hartley 
was  not  very  persevering,  and  had  not  enough  fortitude. 
In  reverses  he  became  too  despondent  and  hopeless  ;  in  long 
continuance  of  monotonous  duties  he  grew  disgusted  and 
weary.  If  he  usually  persisted  in  spite  of  his  dislikes,  it 
was  more  through  personal  pride  than  just  principle ;  for 
he  lacked  stability. 

Garnet  was  different.  He  seemed  to  have  gradually 
become  careless.     None  could  be  more  attentive  to  duty 


14  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

than  he,  and  no  one  had  ever  known  him  guilty  of  any  un- 
gentlemanly  speech  or  act ;  but  he  seemed  to  have  no  care 
for  influence  over  others,  and  to  have  lost  much  of  his  for- 
mer power.  Not  that  others  failed  in  outward  respect 
toward  him,  but  he  did  not  seem  to  be  thought  of.  When 
he  entered  a  mess  he  speedily  became  a  fixed  fact.  He  had 
a  great  power  of  hiding  what  he  knew,  and  though  he  was 
continually  gaining  fresh  knowledge,  but  few  remarked  it. 
His  dress  was  generally  somewhat  slouchy. 

Still,  in  spite  of  outer  appearances,  he  was  much  more 
of  a  man  than  common,  a  fact  occasionally  discovered  by 
some  associate  possessed  of  penetration.  He  governed  him- 
self well ;  he  was  not  easily  moved  by  any  low  influence  of 
flattery,  or  of  urgency,  or  of  importunity,  or  by  the  power 
of  others'  will.  His  actions  came  mostly  from  wise  reflec- 
tion, on  which  he  mainly  depended  ;  and  from  himself — that 
good  part  of  himself,  his  own  mind — he  could  not  be  easily 
enticed  or  forced  away.  He  never  made  trouble,  because 
he  neither  sought  the  secrets  of  others  nor  talked  of  them 
when  they  came  into  his  possession.  He  had  a  fine  control 
over  his  tongue.  His  leading  ideas  for  life  were  something 
like  this :  Faithfulness  in  duty  will  be  sure  to  give  me  all 
the  credit  I  deserve.  I  will  keep  my  mouth  shut  and  save 
making  trouble  for  everybody  in  range.  I  don't  care  much 
what  other  men  think,  as  long  as  I  have  had  a  chance  to 
think  for  myself  and  am  acting  up  to  my  own  ideas  of 
right.  There  is  nobody  doesn't  need  helping  along  and 
holding  back  at  the  same  time.  I  must  try  to  think  how 
other  men  feel,  and  to  remember  that  hardly  anybody  has 
had  a  fair  chance. 

The  men,  recognizing  his  coolness  and  ability  in  trying 
situations,  as  well  as  his  regard  for  duty  at  all  times,  had 
begun  to  nickname  him  "  Old  Steady."  Yet  he  was  only 
thirty-two. 

He  was  like  a  tree,  too,  but  some  not  very  showy  or 
very  large  tree,  more  useful  than  beautiful,  and  having 
roots  entirely  disproportioned  to  the  small  display  made 


A   STORY   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  15 

above  the  ground.  There  was  his  great  defect.  His  good 
qualities  were  not  sufficiently  positive.  There  was  not 
enough  outcome  for  what  went  into  him. 

As  a  man  digging  into  the  earth  finds  a  slender  rootlet 
and  says  confidently,  "  This  belongs  to  that  little  tree  away 
off  yonder,"  so  the  nientally  penetrative  could  discover  that 
Garnet  drew  food  from  the  richest  of  soils  without  regard 
to  distance,  and  that  he  took  in  a  great  deal  of  the  best. 
Yet  instead  of  the  ripe  fruit  of  wise  independent  action, 
he  bore  only  the  flower  of  quiet  gentlemanhood.  All  this 
showed  a  long-continued  selfishness,  which  had  become  a 
part  of  his  life,  though  he  never  saw  it  in  the  strong  light 
of  full  conviction. 

Hartley  had  personal  ambition,  which,  joined  to  his  other 
qualities,  insured  his  continual  rising;  but  of  ambition, 
within  and  for  himself,  Garnet  had  none.  He  needed  some 
brightening,  spurring,  conscience-inspiring  motive,  beyond 
any  motive  he  already  had,  to  redeem  and  vivify  his  life. 

By  a  singular  good  fortune  these  two  men,  who  had 
come  to  know  and  love  each  other,  had  always  sailed  to- 
gether. With  a  few  exceptions  of  brief  periods,  they  had 
passed  in  each  other's  company  all  of  their  life,  from  boy- 
hood into  settled  manhood.  Their  mutual  regard  and  in- 
separability had  passed  into  proverbial  expressions.  Some- 
times by  way  of  example  things  were  said  to  be  joined  as 
fast  as  Hartley  and  Garnet,  or  something  else  was  as  close 
as  their  friendship.  They  were  spoken  of  together  indiffer- 
ently as  "  the  twins,"  or  "  the  mates,"  or  "  the  partners," 
or  "  the  old  firm." 

Some  time  after  the  schooner  had  passed  they  fell  into 
a  conversation. 

"  Where  are  you  going  to-night,  Hal  ?  "  asked  Garnet. 
-     "  To  the  ball  at  Mrs.  Van  Meter's." 

*'  You'll  find  that  woman  yet." 

"What  woman?" 

"  The  one  you've  been  looking  for  these  five  years." 

"  I  haven't  been  aware  of  the  search." 


16  LOVB   AFLOAT. 

"  No,  I  don't  suppose  you  have.  How  about  that  Spanish 
girl  at  the  Havana  ?     You  met  her  at  a  ball,  by  the  way." 

*'  Pshaw,  Will,  you  know  that  was  only  a  bit  of  soft- 
ness." 

"  Soft  as  a  sour  sops,  and  like  one  otherwise." 

"  As  how,  William  ?  " 

"  Green.     How  about  Miss  Lansquenet  at  Gibraltar  ?  " 

With  3  little  hesitation :  "  You  must  allow  she  was  a 
lovely  woman." 

"  I  am  not  so  qualified  to  speak  of  that  as  you.  I  never 
saw  her  but — " 

"  Just  one  time  and  at  a  distance  then — ha  !  ha !  Saw  a 
lady  coming  off  in  the  gig  in  your  watch  on  deck — through 
the  glass,  ha !  ha !  and  got  a  relief  and  dodged  into  your 
room  till  she  was  gone,  ha  !  ha !  " 

"Well,"  replied  G.  in  a  summing  up  tone,  "  She  toas 
good-looking,  and  you  didn't  go  ashore  to  the  colonel's 
house,  and  the  balls,  and  the  rides  for  nothing.  You 
would  have  found  her  that  time  if  we  hadn't  been  sent 
over  to  Tripoli  just  in  season  to  save  you." 

"  You  must  allow  she  was  a  lovely  woman,  Will." 

"To  look  at,  she  was" — Hartley  put  in  a  smile,  remem- 
bering Garnet's  one  look — "  but  you  didn't  know  her.  For 
a  month  afterward  you  were  as  full  as  the  mizzen  top-sail 
with  the  wind  aft." 

"Well,  well,  that's  all  past  and  gone,  and  I'm  glad  of 
it.     Those  were  my  youthful  follies." 

"  A  part  of  them.  And  you're  ready  and  primed  to  go 
off  into  manly  ones  as  the  chance  offers." 

"  Good  Lord,  Will,  -I  believe  you'd  have  me  keep 
away  from  ladies'  company  altogether  !  " 

"  Why  not  ?  Look  at  me.  How  else  are  you  going  to 
keep  out  of  harm's  way  ?  " 

"  You're  as  absurd  as  usual.  You  think  because  I  enjoy 
a  dance  and  like  to  talk  nonsense  to  a  bright  girl,  and  take 
pleasure  in  shore  society  that  I  am  continually  hunting  a 
wife.     And  you  give  me  credit  for  no  higher  motive  than 


A   STORY   or  THE  AMERICAN   NAVY*.  IT 

a  natural  instinct.  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  much  mis- 
taken, and  to  prove  it — " 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Hal.  I  think  you  are  a  marrying 
man,  and  that  you  will  be  happier  married.  But  I  believe 
you  are  apt  to  take  a  pretty  face  for  full  proof  of  goodness. 
I'm  afraid  after  we  are  parted  I  shall  see  you  dissatisfied, 
and  feel  that  I  have  been  deprived  of  your  company,  and 
you've  got  a  poor  bargain." 

"  Will,"  replied  Hartley,  with  some  feeling,  "  I  beg  your 
pardon ;  I  was  wrong.  But  you  needn't  borrow  trouble, 
for  I  assure  you  I  haven't  a  thought  of  marrying.  If  ever 
I  do  ask  a  woman  to  have  me,  it  will  be  one  that's  too  good 
for  me." 

"  How  were  you  going  to  prove  it  a  minute  ago  ?  " 

"  To  prove  it  ?  Oh,  yes :  I  was  going  to  say  that  I 
am  tired  of  this  yard  duty,  and  to  ask  what  you  think  of 
applying  for  orders  to  the  Fish." 

"I'm  with  you.     Gulf,  isn't  she  ?  " 

«Yes."  ';■:-■-.•-'•"' 

"  Maybe  we'll  have  a  little  fighting." 

"  Tunis  was  the  last,  and  that-  wasn't  much  after  the 
other.  It  seems  hardly  a  year  ago  since  we  were  in  the 
Old  Ironsides'  steerage  together.  'I  Jove,  Will,  some 
of  those  engagements  won't  go  off  our  bragging-list  soon." 

"  You're  right." 

"  The  Cyane  and  Levant,  and  the  way  old  Stewart  got 
us  out  of  Porto  Praya  that  morning,  were  the  best." 

"  Porter's  the  right  man  in  the  right  place." 

They  sat  awhile  longer,  silent.  It  had  grown  dark,  but 
a  young  moon  shone  with  yellow  glancing  rays  on  the 
black  river,  occasionally  making  visible  in  a  pale  and 
ghostly  manner  the  few  remaining  cakes  of  ice  which  the 
tide  carried  across  the  path  of  light.  Garnet's  pipe  had 
long  been  out.  The  lamps  were  brought  into  the  ward- 
room, a  cheerful  sound  of  poking  the  fire,  and  rattling 
crockery  was  heard,  and  by  and  by  a  black  boy  appeared 
at  the  door  saying,  "  Supper  ready,  sah." 


18  V  LOTB  APLOAT. 

*'  Well,  Hal,  shall  we  apply  to-morrow  ?  ** 

«  Yes,  Vm  willing." 

The  other  members  of  the  mess  now  collecting  around 
the  supper  table,  the  two  arose  and  went  to  their  seats. 
The  meal  was  soon  over.  Garnet  refilled  his  pipe,  and  set 
the  devil  on  fire,  while  Hartley  put  on  a  dress  coat. 

"  Are  you  going  over  in  the  barge  ?  "  he  asked,  as  Hart- 
ley emerged,  fully  prepared. 

"  Yes  ;  the  captain  was  so  good  as  to  invite  me." 

"Good.-night  to  you."  And  he  added,  in  a  lower  tone, 
"  Look  out  you  don't  meet  her  to-night." 


CHAPTER  H. 


¥E  must  imagine  Hartley's  pull  across  the  river  with  the 
stiff  captain  for  company,  the  landing,  the  walk  up 
town,  and  his  arrival  at  the  house  of  the  Van  Meters,  which 
was  to  be  the  scene  of  the  evening's  festivities.  His 
acquaintance  with  the  family  was  of  old  date,  and  he  was 
received  by  the  hostess,  a  lady  of  unmeasured  abilities  as  a 
talker,  with  a  familiarity  which  bore  witness  to  that  fact  as 
well  as  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  "  Oh,  Harry," 
exclaimed  the  robust  matron,  advancing  with  extended 
hand  and  giving  him  no  time  for  the  usual  courtesies, 
*'  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,  and  so  soon.  I  was  afraid  you 
would  be  late." 

"  Thank  you,  madam  ;  I  am  proud  to  hear  you  say  so — 
but  perhaps  it  is  not  entirely  on  my  account." 

"  Oh,  you  vain  fellow !  to  think  of  such  a  thing  at  all. 
Certainly  it  wasn't  on  your  account." 

"  How  can  you  be  so  cruel  ?  To  awaken  my  pride  and 
then — what  is  the  reason  you  wished  me  to  come  early?  I 
see  I  am  among  the  first  arrivals." 

"  Now  do  be  still,  Harry,  if  you  can,  and  let  me  tell  you. 


A    STOKY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  19 

I'm  sure  I'm  anxious  enough  to  do  it,  for  somebody  may 
come  in  at  any  moment,  and  I  couldn't  teil  you  then  at  all. 
If  you  only  would  give  me  a  chance  to  say  .what  I  wish — ^buf 
you  always  would  talk  to  the  exclusion  of  every  one  else — " 

"  At  your  service,  madam.     I'm  as  still  as  the  grave." 

"  H'ssh  ! "  with  reproving  finger  ;  "  there  you  go  oif 
again,  sir.  What  did  I  say  ?  I  do  wonder  hovv  you  get 
along,  Harry  Hartley,  at  church  on  the  ship,  or  whatever 
service  you  heathens  substitute  for  the  regular  service,  and 
you  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  do  so,  or  some  of  those  dread- 
ful ceremonies  when  all  must  be  so  still,  and  the  commander 
looks  at  all  the  sailors  and  the  cannon  to  see  if  all  are  ready 
for  service.  Oh,  Harry,  it's  a  dreadful  trade  you  follow, 
devoting  all  your  time  and  talents  to  kill  poor  inoffensive 
people  you  never  saw  before  and  that  never  did  you  any 
harm.  I  want  you  to  tell  her  all  about  that  beautiful  moon- 
light battle  with  the  two  ships,  when  so  many  were  killed 
and  the  Old  Ironsides  escaped  from  them  so  gloriously,  in 
spite  of  all  they  both  could  do." 

Hartley  found  a  single  blank  instant  wherein  to  enter 
the  point  of  a  question,  and  knowing  Mrs.  Van  Meter  well, 
he  was  quick.  *'Her?  Tell  who?  Why  did  you  wish  to 
see  me  early,  Mrs.  Van  Meter  ?  " 

"  I'm  sure  you  need'nt  speak  to  me  in  that  way.  I  am 
telling  you,  and  you  ought  not  to  be  in  such  a  hurry.  It  is 
Miss  Dewhurst — Mary  Dewhurst  you've  heard  me  speak 
about  so  often  at  your  mother's.  I  want  you  to  be  atten- 
tive to  her,  for  she  has  been  in  mourning  for  l^er  ^wo  aunts 
and  her  grandmother  for  two  years.  You  know  Mrs.  Terrell 
died  just  as  she  came  into  society — you  need'nt  pretend  to 
be  surprised,  sir  ;  you  know  I  mean  Mary — just  as  she  came 
into  society  two  years  ago,  eighteen  years  old,  and  she  has 
been  80  quiet  and  retired  ever  since.  Old  Mrs.  Tildmondley, 
her  other  aunt,  you  know,  she  died  about  six  months  after- 
ward, and  then  her  grandmother.  It  seemed  so  provoking  and 
really  too  bad  for  such  a  nice  girl  to  lose  her  two  best  years. 
But  she  told  me — you  know  I'm  a  distant  connection  of  Mr. 


20  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

Dewliurst's,  and  Mary  quite  regards  me  as  an  aunt — and 
she  told  me  she  could'nt  think  of  going  out  into  gay  com- 
pany and  leaving  her  mother  feeling  badly  at  home.  I 
don't  know  really  that  she  has  lost  anything,  for  she  is 
lovely  now,  and  I  don't  think  girls  ought  to  marry  quite  so 
young — mere  children,  in  fact,  many  of  them — and  there's 
that  rich  Mr.  Rojibles  shows  what  he  wants  plainly  enough, 
but  she  won't  look  at  him,  for  he's  fifty  if  he's  a  day,  and 
young  Martin,  too,  he  is  very  well  off,  and  quite  in  our  set, 
and  has  known  her  intimately  all  his  life;  they  were  near 
neighbors  for  ever  so  long — for  years,  and  he  is  devoted  to 
her,  and  I  think  she  had  better  have  him,  for  my  part." 

Hartley  showed  his  -courtesy  by  his  patience,  but  was 
beginning  to  fear  that  the  lady  would  fatigue  herself  early 
in  the  evening.  A  new  arrival  calling  away  the  hostess, 
gave  him  a  respite,  and  passing  on  he  accosted  some  ac- 
quaintances and  engaged  in  talk  with  them.  It  was  but  a 
little  while  till  Mrs.  Yan  Meter  was  back.  Calling  him 
aside  she  told  him  in  her  discursive  style  what  she  desired. 
This  was  for  Hartley  to  come  with  her  to  make  Miss  Pew- 
hurst's  acquaintance,  and  afterward  to  be  attentive  to  her 
and  dance  with  her.  She  added  :  *'  There's  Miss  Isabel 
Terrell,  Mary's  cousin,  an  orphan  girl  and  quite  poor,  you 
know,  for  Mrs.  Terrell  had  nothing  to  leave  her.  She  and 
Mary  are  very  close  friends,  and  really  I  can't  understand 
it,  for  though  I  acknowledge  she  is  fine-looking,  she  is  so 
cold  and  distant  and  reserved,  I  can't  see  how  Mary  can 
like  her.  »  Sa  dissimilar  in  every  respect,  you  know — but 
Mary  dotes  on  her,  and  Mr.  Dewhurst  insisted  on  Isabel 
making  his  house  her  home  and  looking  on  him  as  her 
father.  I  wish  you  would  just  take  her  down  to  supper, 
for  Mr.  Dewhurst  is  here  and  he  will  be  pleased  to  have 
some  attention  paid  to  Isabel.  She  is  his  sister's  child,  you 
know." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  end  of  the  spacious 
parlors  where  a  group  sat  around  an  open  fire,  in  a  conver- 
sation which  appeared  to  be  more  genuinely  social  than 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  21 

was  often  heard  at  a  ball  and  which,  but  for  the  rich  dress 
of  the  women  and  the  solemn  black  of  the  men  might,  from 
its  ease  and  gentle  gayety  have  been  thought  domestic. 

Mrs.  Van  Meter  introduced  him.  "  Mr.  Dewhurst,  this 
is  Mr.  Hartley,  one  of  our  naval  officers,  and  a  very  old 
friend  of  our  family." 

"  Mrs.  Dewhurst,  Mr.  Hartley,"  said  the  gentleman. 
Hartley  bowed  and  was  then  presented  to  the  young  ladies. 
Made  curious  by  the  long  prologue  of  Mrs.  Van  Meter,  he 
looked  at  each„  and  he  saw  such  a  pair  of  young  women 
that  h^  lost  his  easy  indifference  at  once.  Isabel  was 
a  magnificent  looking  girl,  tall  and  of  full  proportions, 
with  dark  rippling  hair,  a  clear  dark  complexion,  and  fine 
brown  eyes  with  a  far-away  expression.  He  was  introduced 
to  her,  first,  and  her  clear  low-toned  voice  sounded  as  her 
eyes  looked.  It  was  not  cold,  but  cool ;  not  unmindful 
of  the  stranger,  but  made  him  feel  that  she  was  one  who 
thought,  and  that  her  thoughts  would  naturally  be  not  of 
him  but  of  things  remote.  "  A  young  Medea,"  was  Hart- 
ley's fancy. 

But  if  Isabel  made  him  think  of  Medea,  Mary  should 
have  brought  Helen  to  his  mind.  He  gazed  for  a  moment 
on  her  beauty,  forgetful,  and  then  bowed  low  in  pure  un- 
thinking homage.  It  was  a  bow  that  expressed  the  true 
sentiment  of  that  gesture — "  I  cast  myself  at  your  feet." 

I  cannot  give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  charm  of  Mary 
Dewhurst's  face  at  the  age  of  twenty.  I  cannot  express  it, 
for  in  it  was  an  inexplicable  something  which,  to  put  in 
words,  would  be  like  painting  the  moving  sheen  of  the  sea. 
Her  face  was  lovely  with  changing  expression  and  delicacy 
of  color  and  outline,  rather  than  with  classical  features. 
Her  eyes  were  truly  blue,  rich  and  dark.  They  seemed  to 
HartJ^y  for  an  instant  to  look  through  him,  with  calm 
power.  If  a  face  could  be  believed,  this  girl  was  good. 
She  seemed  good,  and  sweet,  and  gentle;  and  Hartley 
thought  her  glancing  down  before  his  direct  regard  was 
a  pleasant  unaffected  modesty.     He  saw  her  bright  brown 


22  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

hair  lying  low  on  her  smooth  broad  forehead,  her  pretty 
pink  ear,  her  well-shaped  mouth,  and  her  long  dark  lashes ; 
and  it  was  no  wonder  that  he  bowed  low.  He  was,  as 
Garnet  had  intimated,  very  susceptible;  and  Mary  was 
the  unconscious  flower  of  all  temptation  and  attractive 
mystery. 

Mr.  Dewhurst's  voice  recalled  him.  "  Draw  up  that 
easy  chair  behind  you,  Mr.  Hartley,  and  join  us.  I  have  a 
partiality  for  the  members  of  your  profession,  sir.  You 
will  find  it  very  comfortable  here.  This  genial  fire  is  the 
best  part  of  the  ball  to  us  old  folks." 

"  Father  puts  his  strong  reason  first,  Mr.  Hartley,"  said 
Mary  with  a  smile. 

Hartley  thought  she  was  even  lovelier  with  the  smile 
on  her  face  than  she  had  looked  before.  He  smiled  back 
spontaneously. 

"  I  believe,"  she  went  on,  "  he  likes  the  navy  from  a 
sort  of  mercenary,  gratitude." 

"And  for  the  same  reason,"  her  mother  remarked, 
"Mr.  Dewhurst  loves  a  good  fire.  The  nearer  he  gets,  the 
warmer  grows  his  afiection." 

^"Of  course  that  gets  warm  with  the  rest  of  me.  I 
think  my  affections  are  all  centred  in  my  left  knee  to- 
night, sir  ;  for  I  have  a  little  rheumatism  there,  and  the 
heat  seems  really  kind  to  warm  it.  The  fire  is  certainly 
the  best  part  of  it  all." 

"  The  best  part  for  me  is  to  see  the  brightness  and  en- 
joyment of  so  many  young  folks,"  said  Mrs.  Dewhurst. 

"  You  see,  Mr.  Hartley,  how  it  is.  My  daughter  says  T 
am  mercenary,  and  my  wife  intimates  that  I  am  selfish. 
How  good  for  mankind  it  is  to  have  charity  always  at 
hand  in  the  persons  of  the  fair." 

"  At  any  rate,  sir,"  replied  Hartley,  "I  am  glad  to  find 
a  friend  of  the  service  in  you,  for  we  are  not  •always  very 
highly  valued  ;  and  as  for  the  fire,  it  is  a  pleasant  feature. 
Imagine  us  all  assembled  for  pleasure,  and  depending  on 


A   STORY  OF  THE   AMERICAN"  NAVY.  23 

furs  for  warmth.    Will  you  tell  me,"  he  added,  turning  to 
Mary,  "  why  Mr.  Dewhurst's  gratitude  is  mercenary." 

"  I  believe  father  had  a  ship  saved  from  the  British  in 
the  late  war." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  had.  I  sent  out  a  very  fast  ship  of  600 
tons,  to  the  East  Indies  for  coffee  in  '13,  and  coming  home 
she  was  taken  by  an  English  ten-gun  brig.  It  was  a  need- 
less surrender  entirely,  for  the  captain  let  the  brig  come  * 
within  gunshot,  thinking  him  a  Frenchman,  and  then  was 
so  panic-struck  that  he  made  no  effort  to  get  away  what- 
ever. The  brig  put  a  prize  crew  aboard  my  ship,  and 
started  her  to  England,  but  the  Constitution  overhauled 
her  on  the  way,  and  changed  her  destination  to  suit  me 
better." 

"  What  was  your  ship's  name  ?  " 

"  The  Saratoga." 

"  I  remember  her  recapture  ver^well,  and  a  long  chase 
she  gave  us.  She  would  have  escaped  almost  anything  but 
the  Constitution." 

"What,  you  were  on  the  Constitution,  then  ! " 

"  I  was  a  midshipman  in  her.  Your  captain  made  a  very 
lame  excuse  for  his  capture.  Bainbridge  told  him  his  luck 
was  better  than  his  desert,  and  advised  him  to  keep 
awake." 

"  He  followed  the  advice.  He  was  so  glad  to  get  away, 
and  so  careful  to  get  home  safe,  that  he  was  almost  too  sharp. 
He  lay  hid  down  on  the  coast  of  Maine  a  long  while  before 
he  dared  venture  to  come  home ;  and  finally  he  slipped 
through  the  New  London  blockade  and  actually  ran  up  be- 
hind Shelter  Island  at  night.  He  was  snugly  hidden  there, 
but  that  did'nt  satisfy  him.  He  discharged  the  cargo — I  had 
to  have  the  coffee  hauled  in  wagons  to  Williamsburg — and, 
then  he  got  everything  possible  out  of  the  ship,  put  floats  of 
hogsheads  under  her,  and  towed  her  up  the  Peconic  Sound 
on  a  mud  bank.     She  lay  there  till  the  war  was  over." 

After  a  few  minutes'  longer  talk  several  mutual  acquaint- 
ances joined  the  group,  which  then  divided    into  little 


24:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

knots  of  talkers.  The  rooms  began  to  fill.  Hartle}'-  kept  a 
seat  with  Mary  and  Isabel,  whom  he  amused  with  his  lively 
conversation  for  awhile  longer.  It  w^as  very  pleasant  for 
him.  Mary  listened  with  a  ready  laugh  for  his  fun,  and  a 
ready  rejoinder  and  quick  appreciation  for  the  remarks  on 
solid  subjects  with  which  he  tried  her — an  appreciation 
which  delighted  him.  He  found  that  she  was  actually  well- 
informed  m  politics,  and  that  both  she  and  Isabel  took  an 
interest  in  them.  Mary  avowed  that  she  was  in  favor  of 
the  Compromise,  but  Isabel  was  strong  for  the  House  bill. 
Hartley  refused  to  have  any  politics  in  such  a  division  of 
sentiment,  and  asked  Mary  for  the  first  dance.  She  was 
"  engaged  for  that  one." 

"  May  I  have  the  second,  then  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure." 

Isabel  said  she  never  danced,  and  Hartley  asked  to  sit 
by  her.  Then,  as  the^ets  were  forming,  a  handsome,  ele- 
gant young  fellow  came  to  claim  Mary.  Hartley  felt  a 
vague  displeasure  at  his  fine  appearance  and  at  the  manner 
in  which  he  hung  on  Mary's  words  and  attended  to  her 
slightest  wants  ;  and  his  discomfort  increased  as  he  watched 
Mary's  pleasure  in  meeting  the  gentleman. 

"  Who  is  that  handsome  youngster  ?  "  he  asked  Isabel, 
as  the  pair  moved  oif,  the  observed  of  all. 

Isabel  smiled  and  replied,  "  He  would'nt  thank  you  for 
that  appellation,  I  think.  Mr.  Martin  is  twenty-five  years 
old,  and  though  he  looks  younger,  his  friends  think  he  is  a 
man," 

"  Excuse  me,  I  was  careless  not  to  remember  that  he 
might  be  your  friend." 

"  He  is  only  a  slight  acquaintance  of  mine.  My  cousin 
Mary  knows  him  better,  I  believe." 

"  And  does  she  like — I  mean,  is  he  agreeable — I  should 
say — "  He  stopped,  quite  embarrassed  by  the  difficulty  into 
which  his  eagerness  had  led  him. 

"  You  mean  does  Miss  Dewhurst  like  his  style  ?  "  asked 
Isabel,  kindly. 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  25 

"  Yes,  that  is— I—" 

"  I  can't  say  as  to  that,  but  I  suppose  so.  ^Nfost  people 
do."  Then,  seeing  that  Hartley  was  uncomfortable,  she  went 
on  as  if  to  relieve  him,  "  Mr.  Hartley,  you  do  not  remember 
me  in  the  least." 

After  a  look  of  surprise  and  a  moment  of  thought,  he 
replied,  "  I  believe  I  must  plead  guilty  to  the  charge." 

"  And  yet  you  once  professed  to  admire — indeed  I  may 
say  "—she  blushed  a  little  here — '*  that  you  professed  an 
unchangeable  attachment." 

Seriously  and  surprised,  "  Why,  Miss  Terrell,  I — are 
you  sure  that  I  am  the  man  ?     I — " 

"  It  was  several  years  ago.  Are  you  so  forgetful  of 
solemn  vows  ?     Then  I  must  remind  you." 

"I  am  sure — " 

"  Don't  you  remember  little  Bell,  whom  you  selected 
when  you  were  ten  years  old,  as  the  object  of  your  constant 
affection  ?  " 

'^ Lit-tle  Bell!  Indeed  I  do — "  (rising) — "and  I  am  as 
glad  to  see  you  as  flowers  in  May.  This  is  a  most  delight- 
ful surprise.  And  to  think  of  my  not  remembering  the 
name." 

*•'  After  all  your  vows,  and  your  injunctions  to  me  not 
to  forget !  " 

"  Indeed,  Little  Bell,  I  almost — I  do  feel  quite  young 
again  to  see  you-^I  feel  no  more  than  ten — " 

"  In  short,  as  the  young  man  that  tried  to  preach,  and 
couldn't,  said  *  You  feel — oh  !  you  don't  know  ho^o  you  feel; 
and  you  want  to  say — oh  !  you  don't  know  what  you  want 
to  say.'  Harry  and  Little  Bell  have  grown  older  since  then ; 
at  least.  Little  Bell  has,  and  wondrous  wise,  Mr.  Hartley." 

He  was  old  enough  to  see  the  point,  and  wise  enough 
to  appreciate  the  gentleness  of  the  rebuff.  "I  hope  Miss 
Terrell  will  be  as  good  a  friend  to  Mr.  Hartley  as  Little 
Bell  was  to  Harry,"  he  answered. 

"  She  doesn't  know  his  deserts,  sir,   and  Harry  was  a 
good  boy^  if  I  remember  rightly." 
2 


26  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  If  you  will  take  his  word,  he  is  not  entirely  undeserv- 
ing of  friendship  now."    The  talk  was  getting  serious. 

He  went  on  :  "  But,  my  dear  Miss  Terrell,  we  men  need 
the  kindness  of  good  women  whether  we  deserve  it  or  no, 
and  I  believe  it  was  meant  that  we  should  have  it." 

"Well,  Mr.  Hartley,  I  am  very  well  acquainted  with 
you  through  recollection  and  through  others,  and  if  there 
is  any  friendly  ability  in  me,  you  would  have  had  the 
benefit  of  it,'*  she  said  seriously. 

"  Thank  you.     Shake  hands  on  that." 

It  had  gone  further  than  Isabel  liked,  and  she  was  now 
somewhat  confused  herself,  but  she  did  not  withhold  her 
hand.  A  pair  of  girls  passing  looked  at  them  curiously 
and  jealously,  and  one  of  them  whispered,  "  To  think  of  that 
proud  thing  thawing  enough  for  such  barefaced  coquetry  ! " 
They  passed  on  giggling. 

Hartley  spoke  next.  "  But  what  can  I  do  for  you  iu 
this  friendly  partnership  ?  " 

"  Never  fear  but  I'll  let  you  know  if  a  time  comes. 
To-night  you  may  take  me  down  to  supper,  if  you  have 
asked  no  one  else." 

"  Thanks  for  the  opportunity." 

"Here  comes  Mr.  Martin,  bringing  Mary  back  to  me — 
or  to  you,  for  you  dance  with  her  next  time,  I  believe." 

Mary  introduced  the  gentlemen,  and  they  all  chatted 
together  for  a  few  minutes.  Hartley  was  forced  to  admit 
to  himself  that  Martin  was  a  very  agreeable  fellow.  Mar- 
tin soon  went  away  to  seek  his  partner  engaged  for  the 
next  dance,  and  Hartley  had  the  pleasure  of  Mary's  com- 
pany to  himself.  It  might  be  called  so  at  least,  for  his 
newly  found  friend  Isabel  was  entirely  overlooked.  He 
was  looking  as  often  as  he  dared  into  the  blue  deeps  of 
Mary's  eyes.  From  them  flowed  the  subtle  magnetism 
which  puts  a  man  into  the  condition  called  "  in  love ; " 
and  when  they  danced,  her  graceful  rhythmic  movements 
strengthened  the  charm. 

After  they  sat  down  he  obtained  her  promise  for  one 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  27 

more  dance,  and  unwillingly  surrendered  her  to  his  suc- 
cessor. 

Until  his  time  canie  round  again  he  was  very  much  pre- 
occupied in  mind.  The  ladies  wondered  at  his  mistakes 
.  and  silence.  He  kept  a  keen  lookout  all  the  time  for  Mary, 
and  if  her  partner  was  ugly  or  awkward,  he  felt  easy.  If 
the  gentleman  was  prepossessing,  he  was  disquieted ;  and 
when  Martin  danced  with  her,  as  it  chanced  again,  he  was 
quite  uncomfortable.  At  the  supper  table  he  tried  to  get 
Isabel  to  talk  of  Martin,  but  with  no  more  success  than  in 
his  first  attempt,  for  she  refused  to  be  drawn  out.  From 
this  he  inferred  that  Mary  had  a  liking  for  Martin,  which 
she  had  confided  to  Isabel. 

His  second  dance  with  Mary  was  her  last  for  the  even- 
ing, and  shortly  afterward  he  enjoyed  a  double  pleasure  in 
assisting  the  ladies  to  their  carriage.  It  was  a  pleasure  to 
attend  to  the  slightest  need  of  such  a  beautiful  girl,  even  to 
help  her  mother  and  cousin  ;  and  it  was  an  equal,  though 
dissimilar  pleasure,  to  think  that  he  was  taking  her  away 
from  Marti  n. 

He  returned  to  the  ball-room,  for  the  hour  was  yet 
comparatively  early,  to  enjoy  some  very  dull  gayety ;  and 
finally,  wearied  by  his  u-nexpected  sensations,  he  took  his 
leave  long  before  the  close.  A  brisk  walk  of  fifteen  min- 
utes carried  him  to  the  hotel  where  he  intended  to  pass  the 
night,  and  he  was  soon  asleep,  dreaming  of  little  Bell,  broiled 
sardines,  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  Mary  Dewhurst. 


28  LOVE   AFLOAT. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  next  day  Hartley  and  Garnet  made  their  application 
for  orders  to  the  Flying  Fish,  then  fitting  out  at  the 
Brooklyn  Yard.  Hartley  secured  them  by  writing  to  request 
an  influential  Congressman  who  did  him  favors,  to  interfere 
in  their  behalf  at  the  Navy  Department. 

The  tedious  and  small,  though  not  unimportant  duties 
of  their  positions  in  a  receiving  ship,  had  from  the  young 
officers  that  honorable  attention  which  their  fidelity  required 
of  them,  and  which  the  naval  training  of  that  day  had  made 
almost  a  second  nature. 

After  supper  they  sat  in  Hartley's  room  reading  and 
smoking  together.  Garnet  sat  perfectly  still,  reading  in- 
tently, and  smoking  deliberately.  Hartley  read  rapidly, 
turning  the  leaves  often,  puffed  fiercely,  and  continually 
twisted  a  lock  of  his  hair  up  into  an  unwilling  horn.  By 
and  by  Garnet  laid  down  his  book  and  looked  at  his  friend. 
He  did  not  speak,  because  he  had  a  way  of  attracting  his 
attention  without  interrupting  him.  It  was  a  kind  of 
magnetic  language.  Sure  enough  Hartley  looked  up  after 
awhile. 

«  What  is  it,  Will  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  wanted  to  know  if  you  saw  anybody  at  the  ball  last 
night  who  had  any  character." 

"  How  ?    In  what  way  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"Any  one  who  seemed  capable  of  seriousness,  or  of 
thinking  steadily  about  life,  or  that  even  gave  out  any  signs 
of  a  settled  occupation — I  mean  anybody  that  naturally 
showed  something  of  the  true  side  of  himself." 

"  That's  a  surprising  question.     Why  do  you  ask  it  ?  " 

"  Because  I  have  an  idea  of  people  at  such  places — '* 

"  Where  did  you  get  it,  old  chap  ?  " 

"  I  have  looked  in,  occasionally." 

"  Semi-occasionally,  I  should  say.     But  why  ?  " 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  29 

"  Because  I  think  of  people  at  such  places  always  look- 
ing as  near  alike  as  possible,  and  acting  as  near  up  or  down 
to  a  certain  pattern  as  they  can.  They  all  seem  to  have 
laid  aside  common  human  nature,  and  all  try  to  be  pleasant. 
Every  man  aims  to  be  very  amusing,  polite,  and  gallant, 
I  believe  they  call  it ;  and  every  woman's  conduct  is  a  mix- 
ture of  Aveak  small  talk,  simpering,  and  trying  to  get  some 
fellow  in  love  with  her.     Isn't  it  true  ?  " 

"  That  depends  upon  the  people — no — I  can  hardly  ima- 
gine enough  such  together  to  give  that  tone  to  the 
assembly." 

"  That  is  the  impression  I  have  got." 

"  WilliamJ  you  are  young — you  lack  experience.  If  you 
had  joined  in  the  talk  you  might  have  found  it  different 
from  your  notions.  You  prepared  yourself  for  a  certain 
impression,  and  of  course  you  received  that  impression. 
Some  of  those  you  saw  were  ill  at  ease,  and  smirked  to  hide 
it ;  some  were  foolish,  and  smiled  from  sympathy  ;  some 
had  a  habit  of  smiling;  some,  doubtless,  thought  it  the 
correct  time  and  place  to  smile ;  and  some  felt  full  of  fun 
or  enjoyment  and  smiled  with  pleasure.  As  for  showing 
anger  or  any  other  bad  feeling,  everybody  knows  that  a 
festive  meeting  is  not  the  place :  beside,  when  people  meet 
for  pleasure,  there  is  naturally  less  to  call  it  out.  But  you 
can  find  the  same  traits  of  character  there  as  anywhere  else, 
by  a  little  digging  for  them.  The  w^omen — bless  you  !— 
you  cannot  tell  what  a  woman  is  or  what  she  is  thinking 
about  any  more  at  a  ball  than  anywhere  else.  They  bring 
one  another  up  to  be  lady-like  and  proper  till  it  is  inbred 
in  them  to  keep  back  any  prominent  traits  of  character, 
especially  in  public.  For  all  that  they  do  their  own  planning 
and  thinking  and — the  amount  of  it  is  that  they  are  quietly 
running  the  machine." 

"  Perhaps  that's  why  it  runs  so  poorly.'* 

"  That's  why  it  runs  no  worse." 

"  For  all  you  say,  I  hold  to  it  that  balls  are  humbugs." 

"  These  cynical  ideas  were  inside  of  you  at  the  start, 


30  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Will.  You've  had  no  chance  to  deduce  them  from  ex- 
perience." 

"I  retire." 

"  Conquered  but  not  convinced." 

"  Just  so." 

After  a  little  pause,  Garnet  went  on  :  "  Honestly,  Hal, 
do  you  get  any  real  satisfaction  out  of  what  you  call 
festive  meetings  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  used  to—"  he  heaved  a  sigh—"  I 
believe  I  am  getting  to  take  less  pleasure  in  them.  You 
asked  me  awhile  ago  if  I  met  anybody  with  character 
apparent  in  them.  I  made  four  new  acquaintances  last 
night,  almost  as  soon  as  I  got  into  the  house,  and  every 
one  of  them  showed  a  decided  character." 

"  Tell  me  about  them." 

Hartley  went  on  to  describe  the  Dewhurst  family  and 
Isabel  Terrell.  Garnet  noticed  that  Mary  Dewhurst  was 
spoken  of  last,  that  her  name  was  not  mentioned,  and  that 
but  little  was  said  of  her.  These  slight  hints  awakened 
his  suspicions,  and  he  began  to  put  questions.  Having  dis- 
covered the  young  lady's  name,  that  she  had  received 
constant  attention,  and  that  his  friend  could  not  deny  he 
thought  her  very  charming,  he  asked  in  a  suggestive  tone 
whether  Mr.  Dewhurst  wasn't  pretty  well  off,  and  when 
Hartley  answered  that  he  believed  he  was,  gave  a  very 
meaning  "  Humph  !  " 

This  made  Hartley  smile  and  wince  at  the  same  time, 
for  he  plainly  read  the  current  suspicion.  He  smiled  at 
the  sly  suggestion  about  the  money  bags ;  and  he  winced 
because  perhaps  there  was  some  correctness  in  the  mistrust 
(though  he  would  not  own  it  to  himself),  and  he  was 
anxious  to  efface  the  idea  from  his  friend's  mind,  without 
exactly  seeing  how.  He  almost  attempted  to  create  a 
counter  impression  by  dwelling  upon  Isabel's  attractions ; 
but  wise  consideration  kept  him  from  the  useless  attempt 
to  blind  a  person  who  knew  him  so  well.  He  held  his 
peace,  and  no  more  was  said  at  the  time. 


A    STOKY    OF   TIIK   AMP:KICAN    NAVY.  31 

Next  day  after  that  he  went  over  to  the  city.  After  a 
call  on  Mrs,  Van  Meter,  who  kept  him  for  a  weary  hour  to 
listen  to  an  account  of  the  best  part  of  the  ball,  which  she 
declared  he  had  missed  by  going  away  so  soon,  he  availed 
himself  of  the  invitation  his  new  friends  had  given  him  at 
parting.  He  reached  the  elegant  house,  and  found  that  the 
ladies  were  at  home.  After  he  had  waited  a  few  minutes 
in  a  parlor  where  every  surrounding  showed  the  hand 
of  wealth  and  cultivation,  Mrs.  Dewhurst  and  the  two  girls 
came  down. 

It  is  a  hard  task  for  most  men  to  maintain  a  rational 
conversation  with  three  ladies  for  an  hour,  but  Hartley 
did  it  well.  He  was  modest  enough  to  think  it  was 
because  the  ladies  were  uncommonly  skilled  in  talk; 
and  so  it  partly  wias,  for  two  of  them  well  knew  the  art  of 
helping  the  visitor  along.  But  he  had  seen  much  of  the 
world  and  its  people,  had  read  a  great  deal,  and  was  able  to 
express  himself  in  good  flowing  language.  He  did  not 
need  many  suggestions  on  this  occasion,  and  his  audience 
was  very  well  entertained. 

Garnet  would  have  noticed,  had  he  been  there,  how  soon 
Isabel  became  silent  after  the  conversation  had  passed 
from  the  subject  of  their  .early  days,  and  how,  after  they 
had  spoken  of  mutual  acquaintances,  Hartley  insensibly 
addressed  himself  to  Mary.  Perhaps  Mrs.  Dewhurst  no- 
ticed it  also,  for  mothers  are  keen  observers  of  such  things; 
but  she  showed  no  disposition  to  interfere. 

After  Hartley  had  gone,  the  ladies,  as  usual  in  such 
cases,  had  a  little  talk  of  their  own  over  their  visitor. 

**  Mother,  what  a  nice  man  Mr.  Hartley  is,"  said  Mary. 

"  Perhaps  he  is,  my  dear." 

^  Why  perhaps  ?  " 

**  I  do  not  know  him  well  enough  to  pronounce  certainly 
on  his  merits." 

"But  you  can  see  what  he  is." 

•*  I  can  see  what  he  appears  to  be,  my  dear." 


82  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  Well,  at  any  rate,  he  looks  and  acts  like  a  gentleman. 
Don't  you  think  so.  Bell  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  so — that  he  looks  like  a  gentleman." 

"  Now,  Bell,  you  have  known  him  all  your  life  :  don't 
you  think  he  is  a  splendid  fellow  ?  " 

"  No.    I  dare  say  he  is  all  a  gentleman  should  be." 

"  Why  do  you  say  wo,  then  ?  " 

"  He  was  a  very  nice  boy,  but  I  hav'nt  seen  him  since 
till  the  day  before  yesterday." 

"  I'm  sure  you  can't  tell  anything  about  anybody  then." 

"Mr.  Hartley  certainly  acts  and  talks  like  a  gentleman; 
and  he  was  well  dressed,"  said  Mrs.  Dewhurst. 

*'  His  glove  was  torn." 

"Which  one?" 

"The  right  one." 

"  I  like  to  see  neat  gloves." 

*'It  was  a  fresh  tear,  mother;  he  must  have  done  it 
putting  it  on." 

"Was  it?"  said  Mrs.  Dewhurst,  smiling.  "I  didn't 
notice  so  closely." 

"  He  has  a  pleasant  voice.  He  does'nt  shout  at  you,'* 
said  Isabel. 

"  That  is  a  good  sign  in  his  favor.  And  I  noticed  that 
he  sat  still,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dewhurst. 

"And  he  doesn't  twist  his  face  about  like  Mr.  Danneron, 
or  smile  all  the  time  like  that  young  John  Fooms." 

"  He  can  talk  well,  Mary  ;  you  ought  to  know  that  at 
least,"  said  Isabel,  innocently. 

"Why?" 

"You  were  surely  attentive  enough  to  listen." 

"  He  did'nt  talk  to  me  more  than  to  any  one  else." 

Isabel,  laughing:  "  Who  accused  you  of  it,  little  coz  ?  " 

Mrs.  D.,  thoughtfully:  "  I  wonder  if  he  belongs  to  the 
church." 

Meanwhile  the  subject  of  these  remarks  was  uncon- 
sciously returning  to  his  ship.  He  would  not  have  been 
dissatisfied  had  he  known  the  real  impression  he  had  made. 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAYY.  33 

For  the  next  month  Hartley  was  a  changed  man.  There 
came  over  him  a  certain  preoccupation,  an  absence  of  mind 
which  led  him  sometimes  when  on  duty  or  among  his  mess- 
mates into  droll  mistakes.  Garnet  remarked  it  first,  and  in 
a  fortnight  was  prepared  for  his  friend's  avowal.  The  other 
members  of  the  mess,  less  observant  and  further  ofi",  saw  it 
more  slowly  ;  but  the  dullest  was  bound  to  notice  it  at  last. 
Hartley  had  to  stand  the  customary  joking  which  is  the 
privilege  of  messmates,  but  it  was  hard  to  bear  unmoved 
after  the  party  had  once  scented  a  love  affair. 

When  he  came  to  a  meal  with  a  quill  pen  behind  each 
ear,  some  one  suggested  he  had  been  writing  to  name  the 
day :  another  thought  he  was  sighing  for  the  wings  of  a  dove 
and  had  taken  part  of  those  of  a  goose  as  a  substitute  : 
while  a  third  begged  Garnet  to  use  his  influence  in  procur- 
ing as  much  wedding  cake  for  the  mess  as  possible.  Another 
quoted  :  "  Bring  saffron  blossoms  for  his  bold  young  head." 
Another  thought  he  had  asked  orders  to  the  Fish  to  escape, 
his  courage  having  failed. 

Hartley,  having  been  in  many  navy  messes  and  some  love 
messes  before,  took  it  all  meekly,  and  his  very  meekness  in- 
creased the  general  hilarity.  When  the  servant  said  "  But- 
ter, sah,"  on  one  occasion  he  replied  promptly,  "Pll  be 
there."  When  he  carved  a  roast  goose  for  the  caterer 
another  day,  his  absence  of  mind  was  manifested  by  a 
remarkable  ceremoniousness  and  care  in  the  distribution  of 
the  pieces.  The  pulling  bone  was  made  to  serve  as  a  hook, 
wherewith  to  hold  up  small  jokes  on  his  matrimonial  inten- 
tions. He  started  on  deck  without  his  cap,  repeatedly ;  he 
went  to  quarters  without  his  sword  ;  he  forgot  to  salute  the 
deck ;  he  gave  the  wrong  orders  at  drill,  and  in  his  long, 
rambling,  broken  talks  with  Garnet  he  tried  to  smoke  more 
than  one  empty  or  unlighted  pipe.  Truly  his  messmates 
had  grounds  of  suspicion,  for,  in  addition  to  his  vagaries  on 
board,  he  was  continually  wandering  off  ashore.  From  the 
very  first,  attracted  by  Mary  Dewhurst,  he  felt  in  rapid  succes- 
sion— if  there  was  really  time  for  succession — an  interest, 
2* 


34  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

a  deeper  interest,  a  delight  in  her  company — and  love.  It 
was  the  genuine,  old-fashioned  passion  of  young  folks,  a 
thing  of  rapid  growth  always,  and  stimulated  in  this  case 
by  beauty,  vivacity,  and  the  not  cold  light  of  a  pair  of  rich 
blue  eyes.  It  was  an  unreasoning  emotion,  but  none  the  less 
enthralling  on  that  account — rather  the  more  so,  since  that 
very  circumstance  was  a  sign  of  the  presence  of  one  of 
nature's  powers  about  which  we  cannot  reason.  And  nature 
was  not  unkind  in  this  case.  She  was  drawing  together, 
with  her  unseen  might,  two  young  people  suited  to  each 
other  in  health,  in  station,  in  culture,  and  in  bent  of  mind. 

That  which  ruled  Hartley,  influenced  Mary.  She  wan 
not  so  rapid  in  going  through  the  transition  periods  of  feel- 
ing, and  they  were  not  so  strong,  or,  at  least,  not  so  much 
felt  by  herself;  but  she  also  was  under  the  spell.  Perhaps, 
as  a  woman's  deep  aifection  is  said  to  be  longer-lived  than 
a  man's,  so  also  it  has  more  phases  in  its  growth,  or  takes 
a  longer  time  in  each  ;  just  as  it  is  said  that  the  fruit 
soonest  ripe  falls  first. 

Nature  was  kind.  Hartley  was  what  we  have  seen,  and 
Mary  what  she  seemed  to  be — an  ingenuous,  modest,  viva- 
cious girl,  lovely  in  face  and  iji  form,  with  somewhat  of 
genuine  education,  and  notwithstanding  her  almost  igno- 
rant innocence,  with  an  abundance  of  woman's  blessed  gil't 
of  tact.  From  the  first  Hartley's  polished  manly  bearing 
had  pleased  her  eye,  as  his  voice  had  sounded  sweet  in  her 
ear.  This  was  only  a  good  beginning  with  her,  though  it 
would  have  been  the  end  of  some  girls  ;  but  by  degrees,  as 
she  saw  something  of  his  mind — and  he  gave  her  frequent 
opportunities — she  admired  him.  Then  she  began  to  look 
for  him  at  social  gatherings,  and  to  feel  satisfied  when  she 
met  his  pleased  eyes.  She  was  almost  certain  to  find  his 
look  awaiting  hers.  His  frequent  calling  at  their  house, 
where  he  was  a  privileged  visitor  (Mrs.  Dewhurst  haying  by 
this  time  found  out  all  about  his  people),  was  pleasant,  too. 
-She  liked  best  for  him  to  come  in  the  daytime,  though  she 
would  have  felt  guilty  if  she  had  ever  thought  of  it;  for 


A   STOEY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  85 

then  Isabel  generally  found  an  excuse  for  withdrawing  and 
leaving  them  alone  together  for  a  delightful  talk.  In  the 
evening  Mrs,  Dewhurst  and  Isabel  were  always  with  them. 
Mr.  Dewhurst  would  sometimes  come  in,  too,  and  liking 
the  straightforward  young  man,  would  lead  him  into  long 
narratives  of  the  wars  with  England  and  Tripoli.  Though 
Hartley  sighed  for  relief,  and  chafed  with  impatience  for  the 
company  of  his  more  congenial  listener,  he  was  too.  well- 
bred  to  let  any  sign  escaj^e, 

*'  Those  words  he  spoke,  but  spoke  not  from  his  heart. 
His  outward  smile  concealed  his  inward  smart." 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  saw  it  all  and  was  pleased  as  only  such 
things  could  please  her  ;  and  he  lost  no  ground  with  Mary, 
who  sat  drinking  in  his  words  with  an  absorption  young 
women  do  not  usually  feel  for  war  stories. 

But  if  Mary  preferred  the  afternoons  so,  very  much 
more  did  Hartley.  He  never  met  Mr.  Martin,  the  young 
elegant  of  the  ball  room,  at  that  time,  while  in  the  evening 
be  was  usually  a  fellow-visitor,  sharing  Mary's  attention 
and  awakening  strong  jealousies.  The  fact  was  that  Mary 
had  never  cared  at  all  for  Martin,  who  had  been  an  acquaint- 
ance and  friend  from  lx)yhood ;  and  she  continued  still,  in 
spite  of  Isabel's  warning,  to  attribute  his  attention  to 
friendship.  There  may  have  been  in  this,  however,  an  in- 
fluence from  that  tenderness  of  disposition  which  made  her 
dread  to  give  pain  to  anything:  she  may  have  been  wil- 
fully deceiving  herself.  At  any  rate  she  imagined  what  no 
one  else,  observing  Mr.  Martin's  conduct  and  bearing  to- 
ward her,  was  able  to  believe.  Mr.  Dewhurst  saw  it  and 
kept  silence,  for  he  had  lived  a  life  which  had  taught  him 
the  power  of  money,  and  Martin  was  not  only  rich,  but  had 
a  promising  reputation  as  a  business  man.  Mrs.  Dewhurst 
gaw  it,  and  held  her  peace,  for  she  liked  Martin,  loved  her 
(daughter,  and  could  see  no  objection  to  their  marriage  if 
they  themselves  should  wish  it.  Indeed,  she  rather  desired 
it  should  come  to  pass.    Some  of  his  wife's  finer  feeling  was 


36  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

in  Mr.  Dewhurst*s  mind ;  and  some  of  his  coarser  motive 
was  mingled  with  hers,  as  she  thought  complacently  that 
Mary  would  be  very  comfortable,  and  able  to  appear  very 
well  in  society.  Isabel  was  the  only  one  who  understood 
the  true  condition  of  affairs,  and  the  only  one  who  was  anx- 
ious to  help  Hartley.  Mary  laughed  at  the  idea  of  a  possi- 
ble entanglement  with  Martin,  and  Hartley  did  even  worse. 
He  had  been  getting  deeper  and  deeper  in  love,  and  at 
the  same  time  more  and  more  jealous  of  Mary.  He  told 
Garnet  about  his  feelings  in  a  general  way,  a  sense  of  the 
unmanliness  of  complaint  keeping  back  a  full  statement  ; 
and  though  Garnet  saw  many  a  little  thing  which  was  a 
complement  to  the  confession,  his  natural  dislike  of  any 
discussion  or  even  mention  of  deep  personal  feeling,  joined 
to  his  cynicism  of  love,  restrained  open  sympathy.  Hartley 
would  not  have  thought  of  seeking  it  elsewhere,  for  his 
passion  was  sacred  to  him.  When  he  was  becoming  dis- 
couraged and  hopeless  of  success,  Isabel  saw  it  and  tried  to 
reanimate  him.  She  was  a  more  competent  reader  of  her 
innocent  cousin's  mind,  in  which  love  was  now  but  dawn- 
ing, than  any  man  could  be  ;  and  of  all  men.  Hartley  was 
least  capable  of  getting  at  the  truth.  Isabel  tried  to  make 
him  give  her  his  full  confidence,  she  depending  upon  his 
request  for  her  friendship  ;  but  he,  scarcely  remembering 
the  request  and  its  granting,  held  back  and  avoided  any 
confidal  of  his  feelings.  She  at  first  thought  it  diffidence, 
but  his  growing  reserve  mortified  her  in  showing  her  the 
mistake.  It  was  a  deep  wound  to  one  who  had  lived  so 
much  within  herself  and  was  usually  so  distant  and  reticent. 
The  thought  that  she  seldom  sought  a  confidence,  and  that 
Hartley  undervalued  his  distinction,  a  sense  of  injustice 
and  hurt  pride  in  the  remembrance  of  her  promise  of  friend- 
ship, and  a  feeling  that  she  might  have  been  overbold,  all 
were  in  her  mind  at  once ;  and  she  had  been  more  than 
woman  if  she  had  not  been  hurt.  Her  good  sense  made 
her  forgive  Hartley  whep  the  first  of  her  mortification  was 
over;  but  then  he  had  put  himsejf  into  still  worse  plight 
and  was  out  of  th^  reiich  of  her  aid. 


A    STOKT   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  37 

Hartley  sought  every  opportunity  of  meeting  Mary,  and 
circumstances  had  favored  him.  For  some  time  he  made 
his  afternoon  calls  uninterrupted  ;  but  Martin,  finding  them 
out,  resolved  he  would  not  permit  a  dangerous  rival  so  great 
an  advantage.  So  he  took  to  calling  afternoons.  The 
consequence  was  that  the  two  sometimes  met  in  Mrs.  Dew- 
hurst's  parlors,  and  suffered  mutual  tortures.  While  they 
w^ere  polite  to  each  other,  and  amusing  to  Mary,  they  were 
each  writhing  internally.  As  Hartley  from  his  short  ac- 
quaintance had  less  personal  intimacy  with  Mary  than 
Martin  had,  so  he  had  a  greater  jealousy ;  while  his  dis- 
position ipade  him  less  patient  to  bear,  and  less  able  to 
follow  up  advantages  than  the  other.  All  this  time  there 
was  no  word,  though  there  were  many  looks  of  love. 
Hartley  resolved  more  than  once  to  bring  matters  to  a 
conclusion  of  some  kind,  but  dread  of  ill  luck  deterred  him. 

One  day,  calling  later  than  had  become  customary,  he 
rang  the  bell,  and  then  stepped  back  on  the  stone  landing 
to  wait  for  the  servant.  From  the  landing  there  was  a 
view  into  a  parlor  window  near  by,  and  Hartley  thought- 
lessly glanced  in.  Poor  fellow !  he  saw  Mary  standing 
by  the  mantel  with  her  beautiful  head  inclined,  and  Martin 
putting  a  flower  in  her  hair.  He  would  have  gone  away, 
but  at  that  instant  the  servant  appeared,  and  he  went  in, 
he  didn't  know  why.  He  passed  Martin  in  the  hall,  com- 
ing out  smiling,  but  did  not  speak  to  him  or  look  at  him. 
Mary  seemed  a  little  confused  at  first,  but  soon  fell  into  her 
usual  strain  of  vivacious  talk.  She  found  that  she  had  it 
all  to  herself,  and  tried  in  vain  to  elicit  something  more 
than  mere  replies  from  Hartley.  He  was  obstinately  silent, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  arose  to  go  away,  muttering  about 
not  feeling  very  w^ell.  Mary,  concerned  enough  to  have 
made  any  body  but  him  wonder,  followed  him,  and  in  the 
hall  they  had  a  few  words. 

"  Excuse  me — that's  a  beautiful  rose  in  your  hair."  He 
reached  out  his  hand,  and  took  it  out  of  its  place. 

"Yes — very,"  she  replied,  a  little  angry  but  more  em- 
barrassed. 


38  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Where  did  you  get  it  ?  "  ' 

"It  was  given  me  by  a — by  Mr.  Martin,"  she  answered, 
blushing  a  little. 

"  Indeed  !  did  you  have  it  in  your  hand  at  all  ?  "  he 
asked  sarcastically. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  " 

"  You  know  very  well " — he  flung  the  rose  savagely  on 
the  floor — "  Good  day,  Miss  Dewhurst." 

"  Stop,  Mr.  Hartley — what  do  you  mean  ? — you  forget 
yourself,  I  think,"  she  said,  advancing. 

"  I  beg  your  forgiveness,  I  did,  I  confess,"  he  answered, 
suddenly  contrite.  He  picked  up  the  rose.  "Allow  me  to 
make  what  amends  I  can."  He  oflered  it  to  her,  but  as  she 
reached  her  hand  to  take  it,  he  withdrew  it.  "  O  !  if  you 
would  only  take  it  from  me  " — he  said,  with  a  strange  thrill 
and  tremble  in  his  voice — "  take  it  as — if  you  only  knew  " — 
Mary  dropped  her  eyes  at  the  first  word,  and  stood  silent, 
pale,  and  agitated.  She  had  heard  the  signal  woman  ever 
recognizes.  If  Hartley  could  have  stopped  right  there,  he 
would  have  turned  his  fancied  reverse  into  substantial 
advantage,  but  the  unfortunate  fellow  had  no  able-bodied 
friend  in  hearing  to  stop  his  mouth  and  drag  him  away. 
He  got  that  far,  and  a  jealous  recollection  struck  him  like 
a  twinge  of  neuralgia.  He  laid  the  rose  down  on  the  hall- 
table.  "  Excuse  me,"  he  remarked  stiffly,  "  I  suppose  I 
should  offer  my  congratulations  " — there  was  a  short  silence 
— "  Good  day." 

And  Mary  recovered  herself  just  in  time  to  see  the  door 
shut.  She  went  straight  to  her  own  room  and  thought 
about  it,  all  in  a  whirl ;  told  herself  she  was  angry  with 
Hartley;  and  then  had  a  good  cry.  She  had  a  headache 
afterward,  but  when  Isabel  brought  up  the  cheering  cup  of 
tea,  made  certain  involved  and  feeble  statements,  which, 
without  being  quite  confessions,  went  to  show  that  Hart- 
ley's place  in  her  thoughts  was  a  good  deal  higher  than  at 
that  moment  he  dared  to  hope. 


A   STOKT  OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  SQUARE,  solid-looking  ship  lay  oif  the  Battery,  rather 
on  the  North  River  side,  riding  at  single  anchor  to  the 
strong  ebb  from  the  Hudson,  one  warm,  still  afternoon  in 
March,  after  the  events  described. 

Everything  proclaimed  her  an  American  sloop-of-war, 
from  the  black  paint  and  white  streak  to  the  slender  pole 
above  her  royal-masts,  even  had  the  looker-on  been  unable  * 
to  tell  her  nationality  from  the  colors  at  the  peak,  lazily- 
lifting  to  unfold  in  the  slow  breeze,  and,  unsuccessful 
always,  dropping  again  to  the  vertical.  Ten  guns  pro- 
truded their  black  muzzles  from  the  white  band  on  either 
side.  Above  the  rail  of  the  light  spar-deck  were  to  be  seen 
the  heads  and  shoulders  of  the  working  crew.  The  pipes 
of  the  boatswain's  mates  were  heard  at  frequent  intervals, 
a  rushing  tramp  of  feet  in  tune  would  follow,  and  presently 
a  large  metallic  box  would  rise  swiftly  over  the  rail  on  the 
side  opposite  from  the  shore.  Then  would  come  the  sharp 
pipe  to  belay,  followed  by  "  lower  away  roundly  ;  "  and  the 
box  would  disappear.  The  square  blood-red  flag  at  the  fore 
told  the  initiated  what  was  the  business  in  hand — the  ship 
was  taking  in  her  powder  from  the  lighter  alongside. 

The  band  of  copper  encircling  the  ship  just  above  the 
water's  edge  is  burnished  bright,  and  the  paint  under  the 
scuppers  is  clean.  There  are  no  men  loafing  aloft,  and  no 
Irish  pendants  are  flying.  The  yards  are  square,  the  rig- 
ging taut,  the  ports  hang  level,  the  rudder  is  amidships,  and 
no  undue  noise  arises  from  the  men  at  work. 

Mr.  Hartley  has  the  deck,  and  is  blue  from  causes  best 
known  to  himself,  besides  being  hungry  and  a  trifle  savage 
that  the  powder  lighter  should  have  come  alongside  at  an 
unseasonable  hour  and  delayed  the  ward-room  dinner.  The 
men  are  working  splendidly  at  the  whips,  and  the  midship- 
men attending  carefully  to  the  tanks  below,  so  the  lieu- 


4:0  LOVE    AFLOA^T. 

tenant  has  only  himself  with  whom  to  find  fault.  Poor 
Hartley  !  he  would  be  uneasy  anywhere  just  now,  but  the 
restrictions  of  the  quarter-deck  seem  unbearable.  He  walks 
back  and  forth  over  the  clean  white  deck,  like  a  bear  in  a 
cage.  He  is  evidently  in  so  safe  a  condition  that  the  three 
quartermasters  sitting  at  the  foot  of  the  mizzen-raast  in  the 
warm  sun  have  made  bold  to  raise  their  voices  above  the 
low  tones  allowable  in  that  vicinity. 

The  three  men  are  interesting.  One  is  tall  and  burly, 
with  an  eye  like  a  hawk's  and  a  nose  somewhat  resembling 
the  beak  of  that  bird.  This  is  Bill  Burke,  commonly  known 
as  *'  Still  Bill "  among  the  older  seamen  throughout  the 
navy,  and  famed  for  mighty  muscles.  In  contrast  to  him 
is  a  dried,  crooked  little  fellow,  with  a  long  neck  that  looks 
twisted,  a  face  seamed  by  a  million  wrinkles,  with  features 
in  constant  motion,  a  pair  of  black  mouse  eyes  like  shining 
beads  set  in  his  head,  and  a  most  dandified  dress.  He  has 
a  voluminous  handkerchief  about  his  neck,  his  clothes  are 
all  new  and  nice,  his  broad  collar  is  turned  back  over  a 
monkey-jacket  adorned  with  many  buttons.  Wherever  he 
has  been  able  to  put  a  bit  of  colored  silk  embroidery  that 
would  pass  muster,  he  has  done  so,  be  it  star-work,  pocket- 
corner,  badge,  or  watch-mark.  At  present  he  is  showing 
considerable  dexterity  in  drawing  with  a  pencil  an  eagle 
on  a  piece  of  canvas.  This  oddity  is  named,  or,  at  least, 
has  for  many  years  been  styled  on  the  books  of  paymasters, 
Wm.  Johnson,  but  his  messmates  always  call  him  "  Thomas 
Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  sir,"  or  "  Ap  Jones,"  or  "  Ap  "  for 
short.  The  third  man  is  an  intelligent  looking  fellow,  and 
very  young  in  appearance  for  his  rating.  His  name  is 
Henry  Thompson,  and  he  hails  from  the  end  of  Point  Judith, 
or  "  P'int  Judy  P'int,"  as  he  calls  it.  As  we  approach  wo 
hear  the  talk. 

[Johnson.]     "  He  had  a  cork  heel." 

[Thompson.]     "Who?" 

"  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  sir." 

"  The  dickens  he  had  !     Why  ?  " 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  41 

"  He  lost  his  left  heel  off  Marocky.  A  shot  come  into 
the  bridle-port  when  the  ship  was  in  stays,  and  it  tuk  off  his 
heel,  and  went  through  the  cabin  door,  and  out  at  the  open 
port  aft,  and  never  teched  a  finger  more.  He  was  third 
luff  in  the  Peacock.     It  never  teched  the  deck  but  once-t." 

"Why?" 

"  Bekaze  she  was  jest  but  hove  in  stays,  and  somewhat 
pitchin'  then — " 

"Ships  mostly  rolls  in  stays." 

"Well,  let  'em.  And  her  mostly  pitchin',  as  I  was 
sayin',  the  shot — " 

"  They  mostly  rolls  in — " 

"  Supposin'  they  does.  Can't  you  emagine  one  a-pitch- 
in',  say  once-t  or  twice-t  in  stays  ?  " 

"No." 

"  You  can't.     You  go  to  sea  longer,  then,  young  man." 

"  I  'spect  to." 

"I  dessay  you  never  see  a  tail." 

Thompson  having  no  reply  ready  he  went  on,  "And  the 
shot,  as  she  rose  to  it,  come  in  the  bridle-port  and  passed — " 

"  I  was  in  that  fight  myself,  I  'spect.  What  battery 
was  firin'  at  you  ?  " 

"  Thompson,  how  do  you  expect  that  shot  to  ever  git 
through  the  ship,  if  you  keep  interruptin'  me  this  way  ?" 

"  You  had  it  out  o'  the  cabin  window  once,  and  fetched 
it  back  and  put  it  into  the  bridle-port  again." 

"  Well."  In  a  moment  he  resumed,  "  He  never  teched 
ardent  sperrits."  v 

"  Who  ?  " 

"  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  sir,"  replied  Johnson 
proudly. 

"  Who  was  he  ? ' 

Johnson,  severely,  and  twisting  his  neck  around  to  look 
Thompon  in  the  face,  "Young  man,  do  you  mean  to  tell 
me  you  don't  know  who  " — here  Burke  broke  in,  "  Ap  Jones, 
hold  the  end  of  this  bunting  and  help  me  draw  the  threads." 
This  stopped  the  complaint  of  Johnson,  but  in  a  moment 
he  asked,  "  Burke,  what's  the  matter  o'  Mr.  Hartley  ?  " 


4:2  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"How  SO?" 

"  What  makes  him  look  so  damn-your-eyes  and  all-in- 
the-wind  like,  since  we  left  the  Virginny." 

"  Some  gal,  I  'spect,"  answered  Burke. 

"  He's  backin'  and  fillin'  like  his  helm  was  lashed  hard 
down  and  all  hands  gone  below." 

"  You  see,  Ap,  some  pretty  craft  has  hove  him  to,  and 
made  him  show  his  colors ;  and  he  likes  her  looks  so  much 
he's  left  his  main  top-sail  to  the  mast,  and  his  ensign  at  the 
peak,  and  started  to  go  aboard  of  her,"  remarked  Thompson- 

"  Sail  ho ! "  whispered  Ap,  to  warn  the  others  of  Hart- 
ley's approach.  He  resumed  innocently  before  the  officer 
was  out  of  hearing  :  "  This  'ull  be  a  regular  rushin'  wheel 
cloth.  *  Gay  but  not  gaudy,  as  the  monkey  said  when  he 
painted  his  tail  sky-blue.'  " 

"  How  will  you  paint  it  ?  " 

"  I'll  show  you.  See  the  eagle  here — he'll  be  red  with 
blue  wings — and  the  paper  in  his  mouth,  yeller.  The  guns 
underneath — I'll  make  'em  the  nat'ral  color — bhick — and 
the  pile  o'  shot.  The  anchor  I'll  have  green^  and  all  of 
»em  on  a  ^chite  shield  with  the  motter  of  the  United  States. 
*  Don't  give  up  the  ship  '  on  the  paper  in  the  bird's  mouth. 
Around  the  shield  'U  be  blue  with  a  red  leach." 

[T.  approvingly.]  "  That'll  be  all  ship-shape  and  Bristol- 
fashion  ;  won't  it,  Burke  ?  " 

"Fine." 

"  And  the  larboard  side  the  same  ?  " 

"  For  them  suckin'  commodores  to  lean  on  ?  Ketch  me. 
I'm  goin'  to  make  it  a  plain  green,  with  a  yeller  star  on  a 
blue  ground,  to  larboard — and  mind  you  don't  shift  it  end 
for  end." 

"  It's  no  gal  that's  the  matter  with  Mr.  Hartley,  for 
now  I  think  of  it,  he  hasn't  been  ashore  in  two  weeks'  time.'* 

"  I  'spect  it  some  o'  them  chaplain  books  he's  been 
a-readin',  then.  When  I  was  in  the  Hudson  in  'lY,  one  time 
there  was  seven  parsons  took  to  comin'  aboard  o'  nights, 
and  preachin'  and  prayin',  and  what  out  o'  curiosity  and 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVT.  43 

bein'  unable  to  sleep  decent — I  slung  on  the  starboard  side 
o'  the  half-deck,  d'ye  see,  and  they  was  on  the  port  side 
with  the  meetin' — I  used  to  lay  and  watch  them  by  the  hour. 
They  was  havin'  a — a  ''vival,  I  b'lieve  they  called  it — and 
it  was  quare-like  to  watch  'em.  The  men  mostly  took  to 
goin',  and  every  night  they'd  get  worked  up  after  a  spell 
and  holler  and  cuss — some  of  'em — and  one  parson  a-prayin', 
and  the  rest  a-goin'  around  amongst  the  men  a-talkin*  to 
'em.  *  Strive,  brother.'  *  Pray  without  ceasin'.'  '  Knock, 
and  it  shall  be  opened.'  *now  is  it  with  you,  my  brother? ' 
and  a  devil  of  a  lot  more  stuff.  The  officers  in  the  ward- 
room came  out  after  awhile  and  they  ketched  it  too,  but 
they  didn't  lay  down  and  holler  like  the  men.  One  old 
parson  used  to  go  up  to  a  man  layin'  on  deck,  kneel  down 
by  him,  and  rub  his  head  like  he  was  puttin'  on  grease." 

Said  Thompson,  much  interested,  *'  What  come  of  it  ? 
how  did  it  all  end." 

"Why,  you  see,  the  master-at-arms  'ud  come  around 
every  night  at  two  bells  and  put  out  the  lights  accordin'  to 
reg'lar  orders,  and  that  'ud  bust  up  the  meetin',  and  the 
parsons  'ud  look  kinder  sorry  and  go  off  without  gettin' 
half  their  'vival  out.  They  done  that  several  nights,  till  at 
last  one  of  'em  struck  a  bright  idee.  When  the  master-at- 
arms  come  and  said  *  Cap'n's  orders,  sir,'  and  was  just 
a-goinVto  blow  the  light  out  on  the  purser's  table,  the  old 
parson  he  says,  says  he,  *  Wait,  my  friend.  Is  it  customary 
to  extinguish  the  lights  at  this  hour  ? '  The  master-at-arms 
told  him  as  how  it  sartinly  was.  *  Has  your  captain  no 
power  to  keep  them  burning  if  he  wish  ?  '  says  the  parson. 
*  Yes,  sir,'  says  Jimmy  Legs.  *  Tell  him  then  that  I  beg  of 
him  light  to  carry  on  the  work  of  God — one  little  light  to 
shine  upon  his  holy  word.'  I  don't  know  what  Jimmy  Legs 
said  to  the  old  man,  but  you  know  it  was  nothin'  like 
that." 

"  My  soul,  yes." 

"  Any  way  he  come  back  with  permission  for  lights  till 
four  bells  that  night ;  and  after  that  they  sent  for  'em  reg- 


44:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

'lar  every  night,  till  at  last  the  old  man  wouldn't  stand  it 
any  longer.  The  captain's  steward  was  a  chummy  o'  mine, 
and  he  told  me  one  night  when  they  was  all  a  hollerin'  and 
groanin'  like  hell  on  the  half  deck  about  three  bells,  that 
the  old  man  jumped  up  and  throw'd  down  a  book  he  was 
readin'  and  said  he  be  dam  if  he'd  stand  the  dam  noise  any 
longer,  and  he  sent  the  orderly  to  ask  the  parsons  into  the 
cabin  as  soon  as  they  was  done.  When  they  come  in  he 
told  'em  as  how  it  was  contrairy  to  the  Articles  o'  War,  and 
they  must  come  earlier  if  they  wanted  more  time.  They 
tried  to  argufy  about  *  the  work  of  the  Lord,'  but  the  old 
man  jest  caught  'em  flat  aback.  He  told  'em  the  Lord 
couldn't  do  any  work  in  his  ship  after  two  bells,  and  laughed, 
and  asked  'em  to  take  a  glass  o'  wine.  They  wouldn't  take 
it,  and  one  of  'em  told  the  old  man  he  was  '  bound  quickly 
and  galled  bitterness,'  leastways  the  steward  said  so,  though 
I  see  no  sense  in  it  whatsomever." 

"  Did  they  come  back  ?  " 

"  Bless  you,  yes  ;  every  night  for  two  weeks.  Then  it 
sort  o'  slacked  up  and  begun  to  get  quiet  again,  and  the 
men  begun  to  stop  goin'  to  the  'vival.  And  then  the  par- 
sons p'inted  a  day  for  a  babtizin',  and  got  the  captain's 
permission  to  babtize  the  men.  The  old  man  he  said  they 
better  come  over  in  the  mornin'  watch,  when  the  men  was 
stripped,  and  he'd  let  'em  have  the  use  o'  the  head  pump  so 
they  could  babtize  all  hands,  *  I  might  come  out  myself,' 
says  he,  *  and  a  little  extra  hose  to  reach  the  poop  would  do 
ray  business  too,'  says  he.  I  was  aft,  cleaning  the  binnacle, 
and  I  heard  tell  'em  myself.  I  tell  you  the  old  man  didn't 
care  nothin'  for  nobody — but  he  drinkt  a  heap.  Now  there 
was  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R — " 

"  Oh,  damn  him  !    Heave  ahead  with  the  babtizin'." 

[Johnson,  oflended.]  "  Young  man,  if  you  ever  sails  with 
Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones  you  will  get  to  be  more  po- 
liter, I  hope,  and  a  better  sailor,  sure." 

"Well,  you  needn't  breeze  up  about  it.  Heave  ahead 
with  the  babtizin'." 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.         45 

[Johnson  continued.]  "  Well — the  parsons  was  Bab- 
tisses,  and  Methodys,  and  Prispeterins,  and  they  'lowed  the 
men  might  choose  whether  they'd  be  sprinkled  or  'mersed. 
They  'greed  among  thesselves  to  let  the  men  settle  it  for 
thesselves  out  of  the  Bible,  but  the  two  Babtisses  sprung 
their  luff  on  the  others  and  got  clear  to  windward.  The 
day  before  the  babtizin  they'  come  aboard  and  went  around 
amongst  the  men,  and  told  'em  how  they'd  all  go  to  hell  if 
they  wasn't  'mersed.  So  next  day — it  was  a  Sunday,  I  be- 
lieve— they  all  come  off  in  the  afternoon  watch  about  six 
bells,  and  commenced  for  to  babtize.  When  they  called  on 
all  who  desired  to  be  'mersed  to  step  forward,  the  whole 
kit  and  boodle  of  'em  come  along,  and  ye  ought  to  see  the 
Methodys  and  Prispeterins  look  at  one  another. 

"  They  had  a  ladder  rigged  into  the  water,  and  agratin' 
across  the  foot  of  it,  and  one  of  the  Babtisses  he  stood  on 
it  in  about  half  a  fathom  of  water  and  babtized.  Jerry 
Dowling  was  a  bos'n's  mate  in  the  Hudson — Lord  love  ye, 
he  was  a  man  and  a  half — a  reg'lar  three-decker — weighed 
three  hundred.  When  it  came  his  turn,  he  went  down  the 
ladder  and  the  whole  thing  sprung  with  him.  I  thought 
the  lashins  was  gone  and  him  anfd  the  little  parson  was  a 
walking  the  plank  like,  together,  and  a-goin'  to  heaven, 
like  they  ought  to — by  water,  you  know.  But  the  stuff 
was  good  and  the  gratin'  held  'em  all  right.  The  little 
parson  was  getting  tired  by  this  time,  babtizin'  so  many, 
and  when  Jerry  come  down  he  says,  says  he — the  little 
Babtis',  you  know,  sort  o'  weak  like,  *  We  will  now  endeavor 
to  babtize  our  brother.'  He  like  to  dropped  him,  but  blet?8 
you  !  I  had  a  line  all  ready  to  heave  Jerry,  if  he  had. 

"  After  he  got  him  up,  and  Jerry  was  a-goin'  up  the 
side  a-drippin'  like  a  swab,  the  other  Babtis'  standin'  on  the 
marine  gratin',  said,  *  We  will  now  sing  the  hymn,  'Tis 
done,  the  great  transaction's  done. '  " 

"  Was  that  the  last  of  it  ?  " 

"  Mostly  it  was,  'cept  it  wasn't  a  month  'fore  half  o' 
them  fellows  was  in  the  bay  or  the  brig,  one,  along  o'  goin' 


46  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

ashore  too  much,  you  know.  But  some  of  'em  is  'ligious  to 
this  day.     I  know  one  o'  them  fellows  in  this  ship  now." 

"  Who  is  it." 

"  Still  Bill,  there." 

"  Better  for  me,  if  I  was.  Who  teached  ye  to  lie,  Ap 
Jones  ?  "  said  Burke. 

"  Who  is  it,  Ap,  sure  enough  ?  " 

"  Think  I'd  tell  you  to  have  you  devillin'  him  ?  "  a  pause. 

[Thompson,  reflectively.]  "I  'spect  that's  what  he's 
swallered." 

"Who?" 

"  Mr.  Hartley." 

"  Yes,  I  reckon  he  has." 

"I  heard  one  o'  them  fellows  down  at  that  thing-um-a- 
jig — Bethel,  in  Water  Street.  That  man  know'd  what  he 
was  about — he'd  been  to  sea.  He  was  tellin'  'em  how  a 
man  was  in  danger  o'  hell  like  a  ship  runnin'  close  along  a 
reef  to  leeward  and  a  p'int  makin'  out  ahead,  and  no  room 
for  stern-board  in  stays.  There  was  a  merchant-service 
chap  a  settin'  on  the  pulpit  steps,  and  he  got  awful  worked 
up.  At  last  the  preacher  turns  and  hails  him  loud  enough 
to  take  the  hair  off  your  head.  ^  Hard  down!'*  says  he, 
"  luff !  brother^  luff  !  !  and  you'll  weather  hell  yet  with 
the  lee  leaches  of  your  top-sails  smoking.'  " 

"  Fust-rate." 

Thompson  had  been  rather  loud  in  his  imitation  of  the 
preacher's  exhortation,  and  the  three  quartermasters  were 
startled  to  hear  a  stern  voice,  which  they  well  knew  for  the 
captain's,  exclaim,  "  Mr.  Hartley  !  the  quartermasters  are 
forgetting  where  they  are."  Hartley's  order  came  instantly: 
*'  Less  noise  aft  there."  "  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  Burke, 
wisely  taking  the  spokesmanship.  "  Good  Lord  !  "  whis- 
pered Thompson,  I  believe  the  old  man's  goin'  to  have  a 
drill  now."  "  No,  he  ain't,"  replied  Johnson,  "  but  he  knows 
what  he's  about.  That's  the  way  to  make  the  men  smart. 
Kow  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  etc.  etc." 

The  colloquy  of  the  quartermasters  was  interrupted  by 


A   STOEY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  47 

the  captain's  walking  aft,  they  becoming  respectfully  silent 
as  he  approached. 

Captain  Merritt  was  not  a  man  to  attract  attention  at 
first  sight,  but  one  who  grew  mightily  upon  you  with  ac- 
quaintance. In  certain  respects  he  was  a  product  peculiar 
to  the  Navy.  He  was  quiet  by  inclination,  though  he  could 
come  to  the  front  on  occasion,  fastidious  in  dress,  with  his 
niceness  leaning  to  neatness  rather  than  to  show  ;  gifted 
with  a  habit  of  plain  politeness  which  sometimes  rose  inta 
gracious  urbanity,  and  possessing  a  keen  though  much  re- 
pressed sense  of  humor.  He  was  a  short  and  slender  man, 
though  very  broad  across  the  shoulders,  and  he  looked  about 
forty-five  years  old.  He  had  a  heavy  brown  beard,  was 
pale  and  a  little  bald,  and  he  had  the  steadiest,  coolest,  most 
commanding  gray  eye  in  the  Navy.  He  was  scrupulously 
just  to  all,  enforcing  Navy  law  even  upon  himself,  and  the 
only  path  to  his  favor  was  faithfulness  in  duty.  Still  he 
seemed  to  think,  like  Lord  Bacon,  that  roughness  is  a  need- 
less cause  of  discontent ;  that  severity  makes  men  fear,  but 
roughness  causes  hate.  He  associated  but  little  with  his 
officers,  probably  from  a  feeling  that  familiarity  might 
lessen  respect,  even  if  it  did  not  breed  contempt,  and  he  had 
many  drills.  His  ship  was  not  sought  by  officers  who  did 
not  desire  labor  and  discipline,  and  those  who  sailed  with 
him  were  never  disappointed  in  their  expectations.  He 
spared  himself  less  than  he  did  his  subordinates,  for  in 
addition  to  close,  careful  attention  to  common  duties,  he 
was  a  hard  student  of  scientific  and  professional  subjects; 
Captain  Merritt's  idea  in  life  seemed  to  be  conscientious 
concentration  of  his  forces  and  talents  on  the  service,  suf- 
fering no  outside  matter  to  long  occupy  his  mind.  He 
made  no  attempt  even  to  save  money,  trusting  to  his  grow- 
ing sons  and  to  Providence  for  his  wife's  support  in  case 
of  his  death,  and  spending  no  more  thought  on  lucre  than 
was  necessary  to  keep  him  out  of  debt.  He  was  very  nearly 
the  type  of  the  Navy  Captain  as  he  should  be.  There  was 
too  much  conscience  in  his  composition,  however,  to  make 


48  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

it  likely  that  other  officers  would  either  resemble  him  very 
closely  or  like  him  very  much  :  besides  which  he  was 
usually  too  cool  and  ceremonious  to  be  a  popular  person. 

Presently  a  very  ugly  man,  with  a  tawny  complexion 
and  sandy  hair  and  whiskers,  came  up  the  ward-room  lad- 
der and  saluted  the  quarter-deck.  It  was  Mr.  Alexander 
Campbell  McKizick,  first  lieutenant.  He  was  not  dressed 
with  great  elegance,  for  his  clothes  were  all  rather  large, 
and  somewhat  baggy  ;  but  he  showed  the  sailor  in  all  his 
words  and  movements.  He  respectfully  reported,  "Powder 
in  and  stowed,  sir." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  replied  the  captain,  with  a  restrained 
smile  and  an  involuntary  twinkle  in  his  eye.  "  I  needn't 
ask  if  the  gunner  has  stowed  it  well  for  I  see  you've  been 
in  the  magazine  yourself." 

"  That's  true,"  answered  the  worthy  and  careful  lufF ; 
"  and  it's  stowed  none  the  worse  for  that  ;  but  how  did 
you  know  it,  sir  ?  " 

"  Your  back  scraped  an  acquaintance  with  the  white- 
wash as  you  came  up  the  magazine  hatch." 

"  Lord  I  what  a  sight  for  the  quarter-deck  !  "  ejaculated 
Mr.  McKizick  after  looking  over  his  shoulder  ;  "  excuse 
me,  sir,  but  it's  too  bad.     I'll  go  and  brush  it  off." 

"No,  Mr.  McKizick,  I  want  to  see  you  now,"  said  the 
captain.  He  had  noticed  that  the  men  were  grinning  about 
the  deck  at  the  first  luff's  white  back,  and  he  did  not  care 
to  give  them  a  chance  to  think  he  had  sent  that  important 
officer  below  to  brush  his  jacket. 

*'  Here's  the  key  of  the  magazine,  sir.  I  thought  may- 
be you  had  better  tell  me  where  to  find  it  in  case  of  need." 

"Very  true.  I  shall  take  out  the  right-hand  little 
drawer  of  the  bureau  in  my  stateroom,  put  the  key  in  the 
pigeon-hole,  and  let  it  lie  back  of  the  drawer." 

Here  Hartley  sung  out  an  order :  "  Aloft,  and  get  the 
whips  off  the  main-yard  !  " 

The  captain  remarked  :  "  I  like  Mr.  Hartley's  style  of 
giving  orders.     He  seems  certain  of  prompt  obedience." 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  49 

"The  men  like  it,  too:  they'll  do  as  much  for  him  as 
for  me,  now." 

"  A  fine  young  fellow,  Mr.  McKizick,  attentive  and 
careful.     I'd  like  to  see  him  study  more." 

"He's  had  the  name  of  a  good  student,  heretofore,  and 
he's  well  posted,  sir.  He  speaks  French  and  Spanish,  and 
knows  nearly  as  much  of  the  profession  as  Mr.  Garnet  does." 

"  Is  Mr.  Garnet  so  very  well  informed,  then  ?  " 

"Uncommonly  well,  sir.  He  makes  no  display,  but 
you'll  see  he  hardly  ever  makes  a  mistake  either." 

"I  want  no  better  officers.  I  shall  feel  safe  to  sleep  at 
night  in  their  watch  on  deck.  But  what  is  the  matter  with 
Mr.  Hartley  of  late.     He  seems  out  of  sorts." 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 
-    "He isn't  sick?" 

"  He  takes  his  grub  regular,  sir." 

"  He  never  drinks  ?  " 

"  No — not  beyond  a  glass  at  dinner.  I  noticed  his 
absent-mindedness — in  fact,  the  mess  jokes  him  about  it  a 
little  ;  but  he  keeps  his  affairs  to  himself." 

"  Between  himself  and  Mr.  Garnet,  I  suppose.  But  what 
is  the  joke  on  him." 

"  They  do  say — he's  in  love,  sir." 

"  Oh,  if  that's  all  he'll  get  over  it  as  soon  as  we  are  off 
soundings." 

"  If  that's  it,  he's  got  it  pretty  bad.  Have  you  heard 
from  the  charts  yet,  sir  ?  " 

"  They'll  be  here  within  a  week,  and  we  shall  sail  as  soon 
as  they  come." 

"  No  objection  to  my  mentioning  it  to  the  officers,  I 
suppose,  sir." 

"  Not  in  the  least.  Is  there  any  improvement  in  Mr. 
Dularge  ?  " 

"  I  think  he'll  be  very  much  of  a  muchness,  sir." 

"  Keep  an  eye  on  him,  and  let  me  know  if  you  think  he 
can  be  safely  trusted  with  the  deck."  « 

3 


50  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir :  Mr.  Briggs  will  do,  I  think.  He  seems 
very  anxious  to  advance." 

"  And  the  midshipmen  ?  " 

"  Just  about  the  regular  set,  sir ;  full  of  meanness  and 
smartness  and  stupidity.  I've  seen  so  many  of  'em  I  can't 
tell  'em  apart,  hardly." 

"  You  must  try  to  discriminate,  Mr.  McKizick  :  it  does 
a  great  deal  to  let  them  see  that  you  take  notice  of  appli- 
cation. And,  by  the  way,  I  heard  you  swear  at  the  main- 
top, loosing  to  a  bowline  this  morning.  Please  to  remem- 
ber that  I  do  not  permit  swearing  in  either  officers  or  men 
on  duty." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir.  You  see.  Captain  Merritt,  I  got  a  little 
in  the  way  of  swearing  last  cruise,  for  there  was  seventy 
odd  Dagos  aboard,  and  the  poorest  set  of  men  you  ever 
saw." 

The  captain  smiled,  thinking  he  had  heard  that  McKiz- 
ick's  habit  was  older  than  "  last  cruise,"  but  he  said 
nothing. 

Just  then  Mr.  Cornwallis  Duncan  Dularge,  a  young  and 
gorgeous  lieutenant,  came  up  the  ladder,  saluted  the  deck 
ceremoniously,  started  toward  Hartley  at  the  fife-rail,  and 
was  just  in  the  middle  of  a  very  military  salute,  as  he  said, 
"  I'll  relieve  you — "  when  he  stumbled  over  an  eye-bolt. 
He  made  the  rush,  undignified  and  ungraceful,  which  a  man 
always  makes  to  keep  from  falling,  and  went  straight  for 
Hartley  with  extended  arms.  That  gentleman  stepped 
nimbly  aside  and  Dularge  clutched  the  head  braces.  The 
captain  turned  away  his  head,  but  McKizick  guffawed  aloud. 

Hartley  asked  Dularge  politely  if  he  could  be  of  any 
assistance,  but  the  gorgeous  creature,  picking  himself  up, 
merely  repeated,  this  time  without  a  salute,  "  I'll  relieve 
you—" 

"  Very  good,  sir.  I've  just  had  the  sweepers  piped. 
The  starboard  bower  is  down,  with  thirty  fathoms  at  the 
water's  edge.  Report  the  gig  manned  to  the  captain  at 
one  bell."     And  Hartley  went  below. 


A    STORY    OF    THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  ,51 

Dularge  was  an  incompetent  and  conceited  fellow,  loud- 
voiced,  very  gay  and  frequently  in  bad  taste  in  his  dress, 
ignorant  alike  of  books  and  men,  and  very  proud  of  his 
family  descent.  His  chief  accomplishment  was  dancing, 
and  his  best  pleasure  something  good  to  eat.  At  the 
same  time  he  pretended  to  be  able  to  speak  several  lan- 
guages, to  understand  music,  to  know  all  seamanship,  to 
kill  all  ladies  young  and  fair  who  exposed  themselves  to 
his  discriminating  gaze,  and  to  do  many  other  things  ;  and 
as  long  as  his  money  lasted,  he  possessed  other  pleasures 
beside  those  of  the  table.  He  was  one  of  those  men  even 
now  to  be  sometimes  found  in  the  service,  though  not 
of  it ;  small  souls  who,  incapable  of  recognizing  the 
dignity  of  their  position  as  servants  of  the  nation,  and 
the  self-sacrifice  it  requires,  make  of  the  service  a  con- 
venience. It  would  improve  discipline  and  esprit  to  remove 
these  parasites — in  fact  the  service  itches  to  be  rid  of  them 
— but  unfortunately  they  usually  have  enough  Congressional 
influence  to  insure  their  permanency. 

Hartley  went  below,  down  two  ladders  into  a  rather 
dark  ward-room  where  there  still  sat  four  oflicers  talking 
over  the  table  which  the  servants  were  clearing  off.  Garnet 
made  a  silent  fifth.  The  four  were  Mr.  Briggs,  a  passed 
midshipman,  who  was  just  off  leave  of  absence,  and  pi'esuni- 
ably  very  spooney.  Dr.  Bobus,  the  surgeon,  a  solid  chunk 
of  a  little  man,  with  considerable  learning  and  ability,  and 
a  kind  heart  under  his  crust  of  dignity;  Mr.  Owens,  the 
purser,  who  was  an  ordinary  sort  of  a  person ;  and  the 
marine  officer.  The  last  was  a  peculiar  man,  in  that  to 
all  appearance  he  was  entirely  devoid  of  sentiment. 
He  was  almost  an  animal.  He  was  vulgar,  stolid,  and  lazy, 
ignorant  of  nearly  everything  beyond  the  requirements  of 
his  easy  position,  fond  of  drink  and  other  sensualities,  and 
utterly  incapable  of  understanding  love  in  any  other  than 
the  brutal  sense.  He  had  no  conscience  beyond  the  code 
of  honor,  which  gave  him  certain  notions  of  what  could 
not  be  done  by  a  gentleman.     His  only  redeeming  point 


52  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

was  his  bravery,  which  made  him  more  respected  that  one 
would  suppose  possible.  He  was  gross  in  body,  fiery  in  face, 
and  awkward  in  manner.     Such  was  Lieutenant  Robbins. 

This  was  the  set  of  companions  with  whom  Hartley  and 
Garnet  were  to  live  for  probably  three  years.  They  were 
fortunate  in  their  messmates.  From  most  of  their  associates 
they  could  obtain  new  knowledge  of  life,  or  the  satisfaction 
of  mutual  respect;  from  the  others,  the  amusement  of  ob- 
servation at  a  safe  distance. 

After  Hartley  had  satisfied  his  appetite  with  the  dried- 
up  dinner  which  by  ancient  custom  fell — and  by  modern 
usage  still  falls — to  the  officer  of  the  deck,  he  took  his 
cigar  and  went  on  the  gun-deck.  Going  forward  on  the 
white  deck  past  the  shining  black  guns,  he  found  Garnet 
absorbing  in  vapor  the  brains  of  his  familiar  spirit,  his  pipe 
Satan,  and  listening  to  the  talk  of  the  other  oflScers  gathered 
there  smoking.  Garnet  joined  Hartley  in  a  place  a  little 
apart,  abaft  the  forward  gun,  and  for  awhile  they  sat  in 
silence. 

Presently  Garnet  spoke. 

"  We  shall  be  out  of  this  inside  of  ten  days." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Hartley  carelessly. 

"  Then  for  a  little  fighting,  hey  ?  You'll  get  a  chance  to 
swing  a  cutlass  yet,  Hal." 

"  I'm  not  anxious." 

Garnet  looked  annoyed  and  began  to  reply,  but  stopped 
after  a  slight  essay  to  speak  and  devoted  himself  to  his 
pipe.  The  smoke  arose  in  thick,  cloudy  wreaths  above  his 
head,  but  Hartley's  freshly  lighted  cigar  began  to  burn 
dimly.  After  awhile  Garnet  asked  him  if  he  thought  the 
Fish  was  on  her  best  lines. 

Hartley  replied  gloomily,  "  I  don't  know,  Will." 

"  Haven't  you  noticed  ?  " 

"  No — yes,  I  believe  I  did,  too. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  her  trim  ?  "  asked  Gar- 
net." 

"  Trifle  by  the  stern  yet." 


A   STORY   OF   THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  63 

"  It  won't  take  McKizick  long  to  find  it  out,"  said  Gar- 
net ;  "  he  knows  the  ship  has  always  been  good  for  nine 
knots  on  a  bowline,  and  he'll  get  it  out  of  her  again." 

No  response.  Garnet  resumed  in  a  minute:  "You 
know  you  have  to  make  an  early  haul  of  the  main  yard." 

Still  no  answer,  and  Garnet  turned  to  look  at  his  friend. 
The  poor  fellow  was  staring  fixedly  across  the  North  River 
into  the  west,  entirely  abstracted  and  very  woe-begone,  and 
his  cigar  was  quite  out.  Garnet  thought  of  the  afternoon 
when  they  had  gazed  together  across  the  East  River,  and 
felt  that  his  presentiment  on  that  occasion  had  been  pro- 
phetic. 

Hartley  looked  at  him  abruptly  and  said,  as  if  answering 
his  questioning  look,  "  Will,  I  must  see  her  again." 

"  Better  not,  Hal,"  responded  Garnet  quickly ;  "  you 
have  parted  from  her  once,  and  you  may  as  well  not — " 

Hartley  interrupted  him.  "  I  have  made  my  mind  up. 
I  shall  go  to-night." 

"  Enough  said,"  replied  his  friend  ;  and  after  a  slight 
pause,  "  Tell  me  what  kind  of  a  woman  she  is."  This  was 
the  one  topic  of  which  Hartley  was  full,  on  which  alone  he 
was  able  to  talk;  and  he  was  almost  thankful  for  the  op- 
portunity and  the  relief. 

"  She  is  beautiful.  Will,"  he  commenced.  Garnet  smiled 
*■''  Beautiful^  sir.  She  is  not  very  tall,  or  very  short,  either; 
about  medium  height.  She  has  brown  hair,  with  little  waves 
and  curls  in  it,  and  she  wears  it  low,  rippling  across  her 
forehead."  ("  All  of  it  ?  "  thought  Garnet).  "  And  her 
nose  is  little  and  fine,  and  the  least  bit  turned  up — it  gives 
her  the  prettiest  look  !  and  her  mouth  is — well  not  small, 
you  know,  but  nicely-shaped,  and  sweet  and  full  of  expres- 
sion." ("  Better  be  full  of  potatoes,"  thought  Garnet  vul- 
garly). "She  knows  how  to  talk,  too:  she  is  full  of  life 
and  fun — you  would  enjoy  talking  to  her  yourself — and 
she  can  laugh  the  prettiest  sweet-toned  laugh  you  ever 
heard.  'I  Jove,  it  makes  me  half-crazy  to  remember.  Her 
face,  sir,  is  the  picture  of  innocent,  lovely  mirth  when  she 


64  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

laughs.     Her  eyes  fairly  sparkle  then.     She  has  the  loveli- 
est eyes — I  swear  I  never  saw  such  eyes." 

Here  Hartley  was  vehement  enough  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  Doctor  Bobus  sitting  forward  of  the  gun.  "  Eh, 
Mr.  Hartley?"  said  he,  "What's  that?  Our  captain 
doesn't  allow  any  loose  allusions  to  eyes." 

The  surgeon  was  thinking  only  of  a  favorite  naval  ob- 
jurgation, more  pointed  than  pious,  which  the  captain  had 
forbidden;  but  Hartley  misunderstood  the  doctor's  mean- 
ing, and  was  much  embarrassed. 

By  and  by  he  resumed,  in  a  lower  tone.  "  She  is  the 
sweetest,  gentlest  creature  !  By  heaven,  if  I  could  pass 
my  life  with  her,  I  would  actually  resign." 

Will  thought  that  love  made  his  old  friend  rather  for- 
getful, and  wondered  ruefully  what  he  himself  would  do 
for  an  associate  in  such  a  case. 

Hartley  w^ent  on  :  "  If  I  could  go  away  knowing  that 
I  should  never  see  her  again,  that  our  fate  would  always 
divide  us  in  this  world,  I  could  still  be  happy  if  I  knew 
she  loved  me." 

It  was  Garnet's  turn  for  silence  now.  He  was  thinkino^, 
"  Hal  has  it  bad  this  time.  Worse  than  that  Gibraltar 
girl,  by  a  long  jump." 

Hartley  went  on  again  mournfully  :  "  To  think  I'll  never 
see  her  again  after  we  sail — and  she'll  be  sure  to  marry 
that  fellow,  that  ^conceited  young  fool  of  a  Martin." 

"  The  Doctor  '11  hear  you,"  suggested  Garnet. 

"  I  could  see  her  preference  clearly.  She  showed  it  in 
her  looks  and  her  familiarity  with  him — confound  him  ! 
she  was  as  cold  as  ice  to  me  the  last  time  I  went." 

He  alluded  to  a  call  he  had  made  after  the  episode  of 
the  flower.  Mary  had  been  questioning  her  heart  as  to  the 
cause  of  her  agitation  on  that  occasion ;  and  the  answer 
was  so  unsatisfactory  and  contrary  that  it  troubled  and  un- 
settled her  mind,  and  she  went  at  once  to  the  extreme  of 
virginal  shyness  and  self-defence.  The  new  feeling  of  love 
w^as  not  yet  strong  enough  to  overcome  that  maidenly  in- 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  55 

stinct.  She  was  not  yet  far  enough  advanced  even  to  feel 
any  pleasure  in  the  discovery  of  Hartley's  sentiments.  So 
she  met  him  with  a  coldness  which  he  interpreted  to  mean 
anger  at  his  conduct  on  their  last  parting ;  and  she,  seeing 
how  he  felt,  permitted  him  to  continue  in  error,  to  avoid 
explanation. 

The  friends  sat  a  long  time.  Hartley  gazing  at  nothing 
in  a  general  westerly  direction,  and  Garnet  absorbing  nico- 
tine and  naval  tactics  together.  The  drum  for  evening 
quarters  called  them  away  at  last. 

After  the  crews  had  been  mustered,  and  the  reports 
made,  and  the  retreat  beaten,  and  the  two  officers  had  laid 
aside  their  swords  in  their  state-rooms,  Garnet  came  to 
Hartley  and  asked  if  "there  wasn't  another  young  lady  at 
Mr.  Dewhurst's  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Hartley,  "Miss  Terrell.    But  why?" 

"  Why — I  thought  I  had  heard  you  speak  of  another  one," 
answered  Garnet,  looking  a  little  foolish. 

Hartley  thought  he  would  repeat  a  small  and  very  old 
joke — asking  the  other  to  go  ashore  with  him.  "Will, 
come  ashore  with  me  and  call  on  the  ladies.  You'll  have 
a  fine  time." 

To  his  great  surprise  Garnet  stammered  a  half  accept- 
ance. "  If  I  thought  it  would  be  the  thing  " — said  he,  "  but 
I'm  not  invited." 

"  Pshaw,  you  old  fish  !  "  answered  Hartley.  "  Come 
along.  Mr.  Dewhurst  told  me  to  bring  any  of  my  naval 
friends  to  his  house  I  pleased,  and  Miss  Ma — Miss  Dew- 
hurst has  several  times  wished  to  see  you  as  a  rare  specimen 
in  fossil  ichthyology." 

"I  shouldn't  care  to  be  shown  off  as  a  queer  fish,"  said 
Garnet. 

"  Don't  be  a  shark,  and  snap  my  head  off.  Will.  That 
was  all  gammon,  of  course.  Come  with  me  and  pass  a 
pleasant  evening.  With  a  sensible  woman  like  Miss  Ter- 
rell you'll  feel  at  home." 

"  Well,  I'll  go,"  replied  Garnet,  "  but  what  can  I  wear  ?  " 


66  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Pooh  !  are  you  a  woman,  to  want  clothes  ?  Put  on  a 
clean  shirt  and  your  best  uniform." 

'  When  they  were  ready,  Hartley  gave  Garnet  a  careful 
inspection  in  the  privacy  of  his  state-room,  tied  his  cravat 
in  a  better  knot,  and  pronounced  him  comme  ilfaut. 

They  waited  till  the  boat  was  reported,  and  then  went 
straight  on  deck  to  avoid  the  remarks  of  inquisitive  mess- 
mates. Finding  McKizick  on  deck,  they  obtained  permis- 
sion to  leave  the  ship,  descended  the  side  into  the  waiting 
cutter,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  walking  up  Broadway 

together. 

»  ♦  < 

CHAPTER  V. 

ON  the  way,  Hartley  asked  Garnet  curiously  why  he 
wanted  to  call.  Garnet  said  it  was  because  he  had 
been  thinking  seriously  of  the  inconvenience  and  loneliness 
of  a  single  life,  and  thought  it  was  every  man's  duty  to  take 
care  of  one  woman,  and  so  he  had  concluded  to  marry. 

"  And  so,"  said  Hartley,  "  you've  come  ashore  to  make 
your  choice  to-night.  You  had  better  propose,  too ;  for 
the  time  is  short,  and  you  won't  see  her  again  for  two  or 
three  years.  Will,  you  wanted  to  see  for  yourself  what 
my  Miss  Dewhurst  was  like — that  was  it." 

"  Just  so.  Maybe  if  she  suits  me  I'll  propose  to  her  in 
your  behalf." 

"  Very  probable  !  " 

«  Pd  better,  I  think." 

«  Why." 

"  My  lad,  you've  got  your  yards  a-cock-bill  before  Good 
Friday.  You  are  going  off  to  sea  in  the  blue  devils  with- 
out ever  having  asked  her.  You  are  not  of  much  account 
yourself,  Hal,  but  may  be   she  has  bit  -at  your  buttons.'* 

Hartley,  half-offended  by  his  friend's  light  tone,  made 
no  reply,  and  failed  to  receive  the  intended  impression. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  house,  Isabel  and  Mary  came 
down,  the  latter  stating  that  her  parents  had  gone  out  for 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  57 

the  evening.  Hartley  was  pleased  to  see  that  Garnet 
showed  no  annoying  embarrassment,  and  that  he  commenced 
a  conversation  with  Isabel  easily  enough.  Beyond  that  h*e 
did  not  see  him  or  hear  him,  or  think  of  him,  the  whole 
evening  through. 

He  was  enveloped  in  Mary's  atmosphere,  which  hid  from 
him  all  things  but  her  :  he  was  intoxicated  with  her  beauty 
and  her  personality,  which  seemed  to  surround  him  like  the 
strange  fragrance  of  some  new  flower,  to  permeate  and 
thrill  through  him  with  a  magnetic  quality;  he  was  joyful 
as  a  lover  is  when  with  her  he  loves,  and  because  he  is  with 
her  ;  he  was  sad  because  he  was  so  soon  to  lose  sight-  of 
her,  and  because  his  hopes  were  in  the  inverse  ratio  to  his 
love.  It  was  not  strange  that  their  talk  was  wandering 
and  desultory,  for  Mary,  too,  was  affected  by  an  unavoid- 
able though  unknown  longing,  and  she  too  was  sad.  She 
did  not  yet  know  that  the  Flying  Fish  was  to  sail  so  soon, 
but  was  thinking  of  her  own  early  departure  with  her  pa- 
rents and  cousin.  Mr.  Dewhurst  had  arranged  to  take  them 
to  Philadelphia  for  a  short  visit  at  a  relative's  house,  and 
there  had  been  talk  of  their  all  going  South  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  cold  weather.  Mr.  Dewhurst  suffered  from 
rheumatism,  and  was  of  half  a  mind  to  try  the  effect  of  a 
change  of  climate.  The  day  had  been  spent  in  preparing 
for  their  journey,  then  more  of  an  event  than  now. 

So  while  Hartley  sorrowfully  thought,  "  I  may  never  see 
her  again,"  Mary  pensively  reflected  that  she  would  not 
see  her  dear  friend  any  more  for  years.  This  feeling  made 
her  kinder  in  manner  to  Hartley  than  at  their  last  meeting, 
but  she  was  still  minded  to  keep  him  from  talking  of  per- 
sonal matters.  Hartley  was  in  a  pitiable  condition,  pos- 
sessed at  once  by  love  and  jealousy,  and  fear  and  sorrow. 
Meanwhile  Garnet  watched  them  both. 

At  last  Hartley  resolved  to  tell  Mary  of  their  approaching 

departure,  and  to  bid  her  farewell,  feeling  that  he  could  not 

suffer  longer  at  that  time,  and  would  not  endure  such  a  trial 

again.     He  told  her,  and  a  pleasant  hope  arose  into  Mary'a 

3* 


58  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

mind — she  might  meet  him  again  sooner  then  she  had  ex- 
pected. She  at  once  informed  him  of  their  own  approach- 
ing trip. 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  before  that  you  were  going  ?  '* 
he  asked,  surprised. 

Mary  did  not  remind  him  that  he  had  no  claim  to  be 
foretold  her  movements — in  fact,  she  did  not  think  of  that 
at  all. 

"  Oh,"  she  answered  gayly,  "  we  had  only  talked  about 
it — like  a  very  improbable  thing,  you  know ;  and  it  is  so 
dangerous  for  father  to  travel  in  the  winter.  We  finally 
determined  to  go  only  yesterday  morning  at  breakfast." 

Hartley  made  no  more  question,  and  after  a  few  mo- 
ments, Mary  went  on :  "  Perhaps  we  may  go  further 
still." 

"  Where  ? "  He  asked  it  so  carelessly  and  lifelessly 
that  she  made  him  guess.  After  several  very  wide  con- 
jectures she  said,  smiling :  "  We  have  only  talked  about 
this,  but  it  may  turn  out  like  the  Philadelphia  trip.  While 
we  were  discussing  the  difficulties  of  that  we  were  all  the 
time  finding  ways  to  avoid  them — we  made  excellent  pre- 
parations without  knowing  what  we  were  doing.  Maybe 
it  is  so  now." 

"  Why,"  said  Hartley,"  do  you  wish  to  go  to  this  place 
so  much  ?  '* 

"  Oh,  I  long  to  go.  I  have  wished  for  it,  and  hoped  for 
it,  ever  since  I  was  a  little  girl,  and  read — "  she  stopped, 
smiling. 

Hartley  felt  the  influence  of  her  change  of  tone,  and 
smiled  responsive.     *•  What  was  it  you  read  ?  " 

**Such  a  charming  book,  Mr.  Hartley.  If  you  ever 
come  across  it,  don't  fail  to  get  it.  You  will  enjoy  it,  too 
— ^but  I  don't  know  that  it  will  be  so  fresh  and  good  to  such 
an  old  traveller  as  it  was  to  me.  You  will  take  my  advice 
though,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  only  you  will  have  to  tell — " 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  59 

Mary  interrupted  him  roguishly.  "Then  it  will  do 
father  so  much  good.     All  the  doctors  say  so." 

"The  doctors! — the  book! — "  ejaculated  Hartley  in 
bewilderment. 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  Mary,  "  the  travel  and  change  of  air." 

'*  Where  is  he  going  ?  " 

**  Why,  with  us,  of  course^'*  she  replied  with  a  pretty 
pretence  of  surprise. 

"  And  you  are  going  with  him,  of  course^'*  said  Hartley, 
laughing  for  the  first  time  in  a  fortnight.  Garnet  was  all 
attention.     "  I  give  it  up." 

"  What  makes  me  feel  pretty  sure  we  shall  go  is  that 
father  has  long  wanted  an  opportunity  to  look  after  that 
part  of  his  business,  on  the  ground,"  said  Mary. 

Hartley  looked  incredulously  delighted.  "  You  don't 
mean  to  say  that  you  are  going  to  the  West  Indies  this 
winter?"  he  asked. 

"  No  ;  only  that  I  think  it  likely  we  shall  all  go,"  she 
answered. 

It  was  such  a  relief  to  Hartley  to  find  there  was  a 
chance  of  meeting  Mary,  that  he  almost  lost  control  of  him- 
self. "  O,  I  am  so  glad,"  said  he  earnestly ;  "  I  shall  see 
you — perhaps."  He  instinctively  reached  out — for  what  ? 
actually  to  shake  hands  with  her — and  Mary  let  him — and 
Hartley  held  on  to  her  pretty  hand  while  he  went  on, 
**  But  when  are  you  going  ?   and  where  are  you  going  ?  " 

Mary  first  remembered  herself,  and  disengaged  her  hand 
with  blushing  confusion,  yet  gently,  as  she  replied  to  him : 
**  I  do  not  know  when  we  are  going,  for  nothing  is  settled 
yet ;  but  I  suppose  we  shall  stay  in  Santa  Cruz  and  the 
Havana  longer  than  anywhere  else.  Most  of  father's  ves- 
sels go  there." 

"  Then,"  said  Hartley,  "  I  shall  be  sure  to  see  you.  It 
will  not  be  good-hy^  but  au  revoir.^^ 

Mary  now  felt  as  if  she  must  be  cool  again,  to  atone  for 
the  momentary  betrayal  of  the  truth  of  which  her  looks  and 
voice  had  been  guilty. 


60  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  carelessly,  "maybe  so.  I  should  think 
though,  if  you  are  going  to  look  after  pirates,  you  would 
hardly  have  much  time  to  pass  in  port." 

"  Well,  we  must  have  a  little,"  he  answered. 

"  Oh,  you  cannot  bear  duty  all  the  time,  you  hardy 
sailors,"  said  she,  attempting  to  be  sarcastic ;  "  you  must 
be  amused  a  little." 

Hartley  took  it  quite  in  earnest.  "  It  is  not  that,"  said 
he,  "  but  we  have  to  take  in  prizes,  and  go  in  for  provisions 
and  water,  and  sometimes  look  in  for  suspicious  craft.  We 
have  to  eat  and  drink — and  I  think  there  are — I  need  more 
to— I  feel—" 

He  was  about  to  say  something  to  the  point,  or,  at  least, 
was  trying ;  but  she  broke  in  provokingly,  "  You  feel  as  if 
oranges  and  bananas  would  be  nice  after  eating  salted  meat 
and  those  hard  square  biscuits  for  a  week  or  two — is  that 
it?" 

Hartley  was  nonplussed  to  have  his  feelings  transferred 
from  his  heart  to  his  stomach  in  such  an  abrupt  manner. 
His  heart  was  in  his  throat  before,  and  she  was  trying  to 
place  it  still  higher — in  his  mouth.  He  hardly  knew  how 
to  begin  again,  but  was  too  much  in  love  to  wish  or  dare  to 
be  impatient.     Then  he  remembered  the  rose. 

"  Miss  Dewhurst,"  he  said,  "  I  must  ask  you  to  forgive 
my  conduct  in  the  hall  the  day  I — when  I  threw  your  rose 
down." 

"  Say  no  more,  Mr.  Hartley,  you  are  forgiven,"  was  the 
rather  stiff  reply. 

He  persisted.  "  I  was  a — I  cannot  forgive  myself  so 
easily — I — " 

*'  Oh,  Mr.  Hartley,  please  let  it  pass,"  urged  Mary,  sud- 
denly changing  her  manner  and  fearing  that  his  agitation 
would  be  observed. 

"  Mary,"  said  he,  with  a  tremulous,  unnatural  voice,  "I 
saw  Mr.  Martin  put  the  rose  in  your  hair.  Oh — if  I  might 
have  such  a  privilege  !  " 

He  meant,   of  course,  that  he  longed  for  the  intimacy 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAYT.  61 

which  would  permit  such  privileges,  and  he  wanted  her  to 
make  some  sign  which  would  give  him  either  her  freedom, 
or  permission  to  ask  for  it ;  but  his  remark  was  unanswer- 
able to  such  a  girl  as  Mary,  and  she  accordingly  kei>t 
silence.  She  was  very  pale,  her  bosom  tumultuous,  and  her 
hands  trembling;  but  Hartley  could  see  nothing.  His  love 
was  blind,  as  usual,  and  he  still  feared  to  put  it  to  the 
test.  So  he  asked  her  a  question  to  which,  on  a  common 
occasion  she  would  have  refused  all  reply,  but  which  she 
now  answered  eagerly,  as  a  relief  to  her  maiden  dread. 

"  Mary,  I  beg  you — I  implore  you  to  tell  me  if  Mr. 
Martin  is — if  you — if  he  is  anything  to  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  said,  "  not  at  all — that  is,  he  is  a  very 
dear  friend  of  mine." 

*'  No  more  than  friend  ?  "  he  insisted. 

She  shook  her  head.    • 

He  might  after  this  have  got  his  courage  to  the  sticking 
point,  but  just  here  Garnet,  who  had  actually  been  making 
talk  with  Isabel  for  some  time  past,  "  so  Harry  might  get 
through  "  as  he  said  to  himself,  put  in,  to  his  friend's  regret. 

"  Hartley,  I  have. discovered  that  these  ladies  are  tired. 
They  have  been  packing  trunks  to  go  to  Philadelphia. 
And  I've  just  remembered  what  Miss  Terrell  drove  clear 
out  of  my  mind — I've  the  middle  watch." 

"  Why  am  I  guilty  ?  "  asked  Isabel. 

«  Must  I  tell  the  truth  ?  "  said  Garnet. 

"  Certainly,"  said  she. 

"  Because,"  replied  Garnet  gallantly,  "  I  have  admired 
Miss  Terrell  and  her  conversation  so  much  that  admiration 
filled  my  mind  to  the  exclusion  of  everything  else." 

"  Bravo  !  "  exclaimed  Hartley.  "  There  spoke  the  chiv- 
alry of  Old  Virginia.  Blood  will  tell,  Miss  Terrell.  He 
isn't  used  to  speaking  his  mind  that  way,  but  the  cavalier 
in  him  came  forward  for  once.  That's  the  first  compliment 
of  his  life,  I  honestly  believe,  Miss  Terrell,  and  you  ought 
to  frame  it,  and  hang  it  up  as  a  trophy." 

Mary  had  recovered  herself  enough  to  say  quietly — 


62  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

almost  confidentially — ^to  Hartley,  that  she  didn't  think 
Mr.  Garnet  so  very  diffident,  after  all.  Her  tone  and  manner, 
and  her  avowal  about  Martin,  had  made  him  very  light- 
hearted. 

Then  they  had  a  little  pleasant  bantering  chat,  all  four 
together,  said  good-by,  and  separated  with  two  of  the  party 
feeling  very  much  better  than  they  had  felt  at  meeting. 

And  as  the  two  friends  walked  down  to  the  landing  in 
the  still  streets  flooded  with  moonshine,  their  boot  heels 
glinting  on  the  cold  steely  stones,  the  fresh,  crisp  air  biting 
like  champagne,  and  cigars  burning,  Hartley  felt  as  if  he 
were  floating  along.  He  "  seemed  to  tread  upon  the  air," 
as  John  Keats  puts  it;  but  the  real  feeling  is  one  of  an  entire 
absence  of  legs.  He  talked  to  Garnet  with  boyish  lightness 
of  heart  and  openness,  and  Garnet  was  so  uncommonly 
sympathizing,  that  a  shrewd  acqu-aintance  looking  on  and 
hearing,  might  have  suspected  that  it  was  the  first  faint  at- 
tack of  a  fellow  feeling  which  made  him  so  wondrous  kind. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


LET  the  reader,  dismissing  previous  localities  and  per- 
sons, imagine  himself  on  the  south  coast  of  Cuba.  Let 
him  come  with  me  to  look  at  shores  on  which  our  charac- 
ters lived  and  fought,  and  waters  over  which  they  sailed, 
searching  and  hiding,  pursuing  and  fleeing.  On  this  lovely 
south  coast  fate  threw  them  together  for  a  few  short  weeks 
— weeks  that  afterward  seemed  as  years,  in  remembrance 
of  their  crowded  and  thrilling  incidents,  their  myriad  sen- 
sations of  fear  and  hope,  of  love  and  hate,  of  sorrow  and 
of  joy. 

Cuba  is  an  island  of  brilliant  natural  beauty,  of  loveli- 
ness so  deep,  in  season,  "  as  almost  to  upbraid  the  eye  with 
happiness  beyond  desert ; "  and  in  no  other  part  is  this  more 
displayed  than  on   the  rich  south  coast.     It  is  a  land  of 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  63 

palms,  of  white  beaches,  of  short  mountain  rivers,  of  ever- 
greenness.  The  sky  is  a  swimming  soft  blue,  the  twilight 
horizon  a  melting  green,  the  sun  a  faithful,  flashing  silver 
ball.  The  sea-waters  everywhere  are  of  that  intense  trans- 
parent blue,  that  color  of  delight,  which  we  Northmen 
worship  in  our  tropical  messenger,  the  Gulf  Stream. 

There  are  multitudinous  islets  and  keys  of  sand  and  of 
coral ;  pale  coral  reefs  beyond  number  glimmering  milkily 
through  their-  clear  covering  of  water ;  thickly-scattered 
shoals — all  those  obstacles  which  pirates  loved  about  their 
haunts.  These  dangers  make  the  sea  dark  to  all  honest 
navigators,  but  the  pirates  sought  them  out.  They  loved 
darkness  rather  than  light  because  their  deeds  were  evil. 

The  coast  abounds  in  little  bays,  lagoons,  and  creeks, 
with  the  entrances  often  deftly  hidden  by  nature's  hand. 
Sailing  along  a  mile  from  shore  only  the  best  glass  and  the 
keenest  trained  eye  could  detect  the  slight  break  in  the 
line  of  bordering  palms  and  the  long  beach  ;  but  run  in 
closer  and  the  entrance  is  revealed.  Perhaps  a  hundred 
yards  back  the  bay  or  river  mouth  bends  suddenly  and 
parallel  with  the  coast,  and  once  around  the  bight,  your 
very  spars  are  invisible  from  the  ofiing,  hidden  behind  the 
fringing  trees. 

By  this  time  our  vessel  of  imagination  has  come— for 
she  sails  swiftly — has  come  with  you  and  me  to  the  spot  I 
have  wished  to  show  you.     Look  around. 

To  the  south,  nothing  but  "  the  fresh,  the  ever  free  : " 
to  the  east,  a  rocky,  wooded  promontory  tapering  to  the 
water's  edge  at  its  end,  which  seems  to  point  across  a  nar- 
row strait  at  a  large  low  key.  Mark  well  that  key — El 
Cayo  del  Pescador.  Between  our  place  and  it  lie  innu- 
merable rocks,  reefs,  and  shoals. 

To  the  west  the  long  shore-line  bends  in  and  out  its 
strip  of  white  beach  and  wall  of  waving  green,  till  both 
fade  away  in  the  horizon.  The  islets  and  shoals  seem  to 
cease  just  in  front  of  us,  and  only  commence  again  about 
two  miles  further  to  the  left.     The  Cobre  River  runs  out 


64  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

just  behind  that  little  point  of  trees,  and  the  force  and 
freshness  of  its  waters  have  prevented  the  working  of  the 
coral  insect. 

To  the  north  a  mountain  range  uprises,  dim  and  blue 
and  far  away.  The  country  between  is  broken,  and  irarae- 
diately  in  front  of  us  hills  extend  clear  to  the  water.  In 
front  of  us  and,  a  little  to  our  right,  lies  a  rounded  hill,  with 
only  one  break  in  the  slope  toward  us — a  kind  of  clean 
step  down  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  as  though  along  a 
certain  line  the  soil  had  sunk  sharply,  leaving  all  above 
that  line  intact. 

Do  you  see  that  shining  object  on  the  edge  of  the  little 
bluff.  It  is  shaped  like  a  rock,  but  appears  peculiarly 
white.  It  looks  like  a  big  whitewashed  bowlder — and  that 
is  just  what  it  is.  You  observe  that  we  are  running  straight 
toward  the  land,  and  with  so  many  rocks  and  shoals  ahead 
that  it  seems  to  you  a  risk  even  for  a  craft  imaginary  :  but 
fear  nothing.  Watch  when  the  bare  stem  of  that  solitary 
tree  half  up  the  hill  comes  into  line  with  the  white  bowlder. 

"  Weather  braces  !  Look  sharp  now.  Brace  in  !  up 
helm  ! "  You  can  now  see,  over  the  forecastle,  a  lane 
of  clear  water  with  many  a  threatening  rock  and  reef  on 
either  side,  extending  to  the  shore,  yet  half  a-mile  away. 
"  Steady  as  you  go,  and  mind  the  range,  helmsman." 
Listen  to  the  musical  surf  moaning  in  soft  bass  an  invita- 
tion to  fiercer  winds  to  come  and  give  its  waters  strength 
to  roar.  Do  you  catch  the  lapping  wash  of  the  little  waves 
on  the  rocks  by  which  we  are  gliding  ?  It  is  all  right. 
"  Mind  the  range,  helmsman  ! "  Here  is  a  close  shave. 
You  might  toss  your  hat  on  the  rocks  on  either  side,  and 
that  one  on  the  left  comes  still  nearer  us  under  the  water, 
if  you  did  but  know  it.  Yet  on  the  darkest,  wildest  night, 
with  a  fair  wind,  any  vessel  drawing  less  than  sixteen  feet 
can  run  over  this  track  if  two  lamps  be  put  accurately  on 
the  range. 

Look  to  the  eastward  at  the  confusion  of  rocks  rising 
raggedly  above  water.     Would  you  think  anything  could 


A   STOKY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  00 

get  in  that  way  ?  Anything  of  less  than  twelve  feet  draft 
can,  in  the  daytime,  with  a  hand  at  the  helm  that  knows 
the  channel.  The  natives  of  this  part  of  the  coast  say  that 
only  two  men  living  know  that  channel — Big  Ben  and 
Captain  Hackett,  famous  names  about  here,  I  assure  you. 

But  you  ask  where  we  are  going.  I  can't  stop  to  tell 
you  just  now,  friend,  but  you  shall  know  directly.  This  is 
the  only  dangerous  place  we  must  pass.  See  that  slight 
break  in  the  shore  line  ?     Watch  it. 

"  Helmsman,  round  that  big  rock  as  close  as  you  can 
shave  it  and  bring  her  head  north  by  west.  Lee  braces,  fore 
and  aft !  In  spanker  sheet !  Down  helm  I  Brace  up  !  '* 
Ah,  now  you  see  something — but  you  don't  know  just 
where  we  are  going,  after  all,  eh?  You  see,  at  least,  that 
we  are  running  for  that  creek-like  bit  of  water  ahead. 
Wind  will  be  too  far  forward  ?  Oh,  no.  "  Stand  by  to 
shorten  sail !  Hands  by  the  anchor ! "  Now  we  are  in  the 
very  mouth  of  this  seeming  creek,  "Luff  and  keep  her  in 
the  middle  of  it,  helmsman !  Haul  taut !  shorten  sail  I 
square  away  !  aloft  and  furl ! " 

Look  about  you  now,  friend.  With  no  sail  on  we  are 
gliding  through  this  narrow  channel  by  our  previously 
acquired  motion,  our  yards  nearly  touching  the  trees  on 
each  side.  Pretty,  isn't  it  ?  Still  you  can't  see  where  we 
are  going?  No  more  can  L  "Hard  a  starboard!"  Ah, 
you  see  now.     "  Let  go  the  anchor !  "     Here  we  are. 

A  lovely  place  it  is — you  are  right.  Sloping  hills 
clothed  with  feathery  woods  on  the  north,  the  east,  the 
west ;  and  steep,  tree-covered  bluffs  on  the  south.  Palms 
nodding  about  you — almost  bending  over  your  head. 
Sandy  beaches — bright  sunlight — deep  shadows — brilliant 
greenness  reflected  in  glassy  green  water.  It  is  a  mere 
little  oval  haven,  not  more  than  two  hundred  yards  long 
nor  wider  than  a  hundred  yards  at  the  broadest  place. 
No  sound  but  the  faint  moan  of  the  surf  over  the  rugged 
wall.  So  you  think  that  in  such  a  spot  one  could  remain 
forever  with  only  those  he  loves,  "the  world  forgetting,  by 


C6  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

the  world  forgot."  Scarcely,  dear  friend,  for  there  is  a 
colony  here  now  the  world  would  like  to  forget,  if  it  could, 
and  its  settlers  would  probably  conspire  together  to  make 
you  unhappy.  Yes,  in  this  still,  sweet,  Sabbath-like  retreat. 
But  you  do  not  seem  to  notice  that  pretty  vessel — there — 
close  to  the  west  end.  Do  not  the  beautiful  surroundings 
become  her  elegance  of  art  ?  That  is  La  Ilembrilla,  the 
little  craft  we  saw  over  two  friends'  shoulders  as  they 
leaned  out  of  a  port  one  evening  at  sunset  last  winter. 
She  is  owned  and  sailed  by  Captain  Hackett  of  this  port  : 
mates,  James  Arrowson  and  Benjamin  Markley,  the  latter 
usually  known  as  Big  Ben.  What  place  is  this  ?  This  is 
The  Hole,  inhabited  by  the  worst  nest  of  pirates  on  the 
south  coast. 

Now,  friend,  assume  a  garment  of  invisibility  and  let 
us  go  ashore.  Other  clothing  might  invite  reflections  upon 
us.     Come  along. 

See  how  still  and  swan-like  La  Hembrilla  lies !  Every- 
thing is  neat,  but  evidently  not  a  soul  is  on  board.  She 
has  mounted  a  gun  since  we  last  saw  her.  Hillo  !  there  is 
somebody.  See  that  darkey  jump  into  the  dingy,  and  scull 
ashore.  How  easily  he  rolls  the  oar.  How  the  brawny 
muscles  play  in  his  bare  right  arm,  and  how  his  grease 
shines  in  the  sun.  See  where  he  lands — by  the  hut — you 
hadn't  noticed  the  hut,  either?  He  has  gone  in — we'll 
step  ashore  and  follow  him.  Come  right  in,  he  can't  see 
us.  He  is  gone — out  of  the  back  door  after  him  !  Yes — 
a  pretty  stream — down  the  bank!  here! — ^^walk  on  these 
stepping-stones  in  the  water.  Yonder  he  goes  up  the 
brook — ^keep  him  in  sight.  How  dark  it  is  here  with 
the  trees  and  bushes  meeting  overhead  !  Do  you  hear  that 
noise  ?  A  laugh,  wasn't  it  ?  There — the  darkey  is  gone — 
hurry  up — no  matter  if  the  stepping-stones  have  given  out 
— the  water  isn't  over  an  inch  deep,  and  it  is  clean.  Be- 
sides you  could  not  get  up  these  high  banks,  and  if  you 
could,  the  close  thicket  would  force  you  back.  Here's 
where  I  saw  him  last,  at  the  mouth  of  this  little  brook. 


A   STORY   OF  t^E   AMERICAN   NAVY.  67 

Come  to  the  left  and  let's  try  it.  Hear  that  talking 
and  singing  ?  Yes,  and  a  violin.  'Ssh !  still,  now.  Bend 
the  bushes  aside  gently — come  on  quietly — Ah-h  !  here 
they  are. 

Come  a  little  to  one  side — we  are  right  in  the  path. 
Now  let  us  see  what  is  to  be  seen. 

Quite  a  lively  spectacle.  The  sides  of  the  brook  val- 
ley have  been  getting  steeper  and  higher  as  we  came  up,  and 
here  they  are  changed  to  rich  gray  bluffs,  sixty  feet  high. 
The  valley  itself  stops  right  yonder  in  a  wall  as  sharp  and 
steep  as  the  side  walls,  so  the  thing  resolves  itself  into 
a  cul-de-sac,  in  which  we  have  the  rogues  at  bay.  Not 
quite,  either,  for  in  the  north  wall  appears  a  narrow,  rugged 
cleft,  with  foot-marks  on  its  steps  of  wedged-in  rocks. 
There's  another  way  out,  evidently.  Yonder's  their  water 
supply — that  silver  thread  of  a  fall  in  front  of  you:  There 
goes  a  darkey  woman  now  with  a  bucket.  See  how  she 
catches  the  whole  of  the  little  stream  in  which  we  waded 
— convenient  pump,  isn't  it  ?  What  a  help  these  scatter- 
ing trees  are  !  They  grow  with  bare  stems,  and  with 
their  leafy  tops  just  about  as  high  as  the  edge  of  the  sur- 
rounding bluffs,  as  though  nature  had  tried  to  roof  in  the 
glen.  The  roof  leaks  enough  sunshine  to  make  the  pattern 
of  the  carpet  quite  diversified,  however. 

The  dozen  houses  strung  around  near  the  foot  of  the 
bluffs  in  an  irregular  semicircle  are  the  Quarters,  and  very 
comfortable  quarters,  too.  Captain  Hackett  brought  part 
of  them  down  in  La  Hembrilla  last  winter,  every  piece  pre- 
pared for  its  place  and  painted.  He  had  them  made  on 
contract,  and  got  them  a  bargain.  Oh,  a  thorough  man 
is  Hackett ;  he  means  business.  He  knows  that  his  men 
are  of  a  class  that  can't  endure  to  lose  all  the  domestic 
pleasures,  and  so  he  has  made  them  comfortable,  as  far  as 
possible.  That  accounts  for  the  presence  of  the  ladies  you 
see — certainly,  the  men's  wives,  of  course.  Hackett  insists 
on  his  men  being  married.     Won't  let  a  bachelor  sail  with 


68  ,  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

him.  The  fact  is  that  men  leading  such  a  life  of  trial  and 
temptation,  need  something  to  keep  them  steady. 

The  open  space  in  front  of  the  houses  where  you  see  the 
happy  dancers,  is  the  public  hall  of  the  colony,  where  all 
hands  meet  for  business  or  pleasure.  It  is  pleasure  this 
time.  What's  in  the  barrel  ?  Water,  I  suppose.  The 
captain  is  a  strict  temperance  man — no  liquor  for  him. 
That's  a  fact — the  stream  is  quite  near  at  hand — anyhow 
it  can't  be  whiskey  on  tap,  for  the  ladies  are  drinking  out 
of  the  tin  cup. 

Yes,  the  ladies  are  rather  strangely  dressed.  Kich  silks, 
soft  muslins,  shiny  satins,  and  one — that  one  with  Mr. 
Markley — Ben  Markley — Big  Ben,  you  know — has  an 
ermine  cape  over  her  shoulders.  Where  they  buy,  the 
goods  are  better  than  the  milliners,  I  suppose.  That  would 
account  for  the  simplicity  of  the  styles.  No  stockings  on 
— pshaw  !  you  shouldn't  observe  so  closely — so  she  hasn't. 
The  ladies  have  a  rare  taste  for  color,  anyhow  ;  you  might 
almost  imagine  yourself  at  a  New  York  ball,  if  it  were  not 
that  most  of  them  are  black  and  yellow  women.  Merely 
tropical  freedom,  friend  ;  their  ideas  are  different  from  ours. 

See  that  rather  moody-looking  pei^son  coming  this  way. 
Fine  sailor-man  that,  Mr.  James  Arrowson  of  England, 
Captain  Hackett's  first  mate.  He  is  of  a  somewhat  retiring 
disposition — perhaps  that's  why  he  leaves  the  gay  party. 
Some  say  he  is  cross  occasionally.  Let  us  trust  not.  He 
seems  a  little  unsteady  in  his  gait — must  be  affected  by 
the  heat.  Ah,  that  handsome  quadroon  is  coming  after 
him.  Looks  as  fierce  and  beautiful  as  a  tigress,  doesn't 
she?  There — she  leads  him  away.  That  must  be  Mr. 
Arrowson's  house  he  has  entered.  His  wife  ?  Oh,  no  ; 
probably  only  his  cook. 

Rather  a  mixed  set  of  nationalities  in  the  colony.  Let 
us  see — English,  Yankees,  Danes,  Irish,  Portuguese,  Mexi- 
cans, Spaniards,  negroes,  mulattoes,  and  more  you  can't 
name.     Yes,  and  dressed  almost  as  gayly  as  the  ladies  are. 

That  house  with  two  rooms  is  Captain  Hackett's  cot- 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  69 

tage,  and  there  he  sits  on  the  door-step,  smoking  a  cigar. 
He  loves  to  see  his  people  enjoying  themselves.  The  Span- 
ish girl  ? — where  ? — oh  !  sitting  back  in  the  room.  I  see 
her  through  the  window  now.  Pretty,  child-like  thing  ! 
His  wife  ?  well,  no — merely  his  housekeeper,  but  they  are 
probably  engaged.  A  fine  young  woman,  too.  Captain 
Hackett  is  particular  about  his  housekeepers,  so  he 
obtained  this  one  at  an  early  age  from  one  of  the  best  fam- ' 
ilies  in  Cuba,  and  trained  her  up  in  accordance  with  his 
own  ideas. 

How  they  have  been  enjoying  themselves  all  this  time. 
But  look  I  there  seems  to  be  some  trouble.  Two  of  the 
men  are  angry — ^fie  !  they  are  swearing  at  each  other  in 
Spanish.  What,  drawn  knives  !  fighting  !  Why  does  no 
one  stop  them?  There  goes  the  captain — he^will  attend 
to  it — and  there  goes  Big  Ben.     Ah  !  too  late  !  he's  down. 

We  had  better  go,  friend.  It  is  really  impolite  in  us  to 
be  spying  in  this  way.  I  hope  the  poor  fellow  wasn't  much 
hurt,  after  all.  But  how  strange  the  ladies  didn't  seem 
more  alarmed. 


CHAPTER  VII, 


**  T  OOK  alive  with  the  mizzen-royal  yard !  Capsize  the 
•^  lower  lift  and  brace,  you  lubber  you  !  Are  you  ready 
forward  ?  " 

"  All  ready,  forward,  sir,"  answered  Garnet,  ringingly. 

"  Ready  with  the  main,  sir,"  reported  Hartley  quietly 
from  the  starboard  gangway. 

"  What  do  you  say  with  the  mizzen  ?  "  asked  McKizick. 

No  reply  from  the  agitated  Mr.  Briggs,  who  is  dan- 
cing about  nervously  on  the  port  side  of  the  quarter-deck. 

"  What  have  they  got  in  their  luff",  now,  Mr.  Briggs  ?  " 
asked  McKizick,  half-sadly,  half-severely. 

**  Lower  lift — top-gallant  yard  " — gasps  Brings.     Then, 


70        *  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

in  a  thundering  bawl,  "  Mizzen-top,  there  !  Smith  !  go  up 
and  put  on  that  lift." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  from  the  top  captain,  who  springs  to 
obey  ;  but  before  he  is  fairly  in  the  rigging,  Briggs  reports  ; 

"  All  ready  with  the  mizzen,  sir  !  " 

"Stand  by!"  roars  McKizick.  "Let  fall  I  sway 
across  !  hoist  away  !  haul  out !     Lay  down  from  aloft ! " 

Like  magic  at  the  words,  the  trembling  light  yards  drop 
from  the  vertical,  square,  and  at  the  same  time  a  cloud  of 
new  yellow  canvas  envelopes  the  spars.  The  jibs  and 
staysails  travel  up  the  stays,  and  the  other  fore  and  aft 
sails  out  on  the  gaffs,  with  a  rattle  and  run;  the  foot 
of  each  topsail  follows  out  its  bowlines,  till  the  sails  hang 
in  pendulous  folds  shading  the  decks ;  and  the  rigging  is 
bedotted  wHh  nimble  men,  coming  down  from  aloft  like 
all-crazy. 

McKizick  walks  aft  to  the  captain.  "  A  little  better, 
I  think." 

"A  good  deal  better,"  replied  the  captain. 

"  I'm  not  satisfied  with  it,  sir.  I  want  to  keep  at  It 
awhile." 

"  As  long  as  you  wish,  Mr.  McKizick ;  only  don't  tire 
the  men  out — and  recollect  the  officers'  dinner  can't  begin 
preparing  till  the  hands  are  piped  down." 

"  Shall  I  send  your  cook  and  steward  below,  sir  ? " 
asked  McKizick. 

"  No,  sir  ;  never  till  the  hands  are  piped  down." 

Back  went  McKizick.  "Pipe  furl  sail,  sir,"  said  he, 
addressing  the  boatswain,  Mr.  Thick,  a  stout,  short,  yel- 
low, pock-marked  individual.  "Koo — week — week — 
week,"  goes  the  pipe  ;  "  week — week,"  answer  the  pipes  of 
the  boatswain's  mates.  Then,  "  Ko-o-o-o — we-e-e-e-e-e-k  ! 
Koo — we-e-e-e-e — hee-e-e-e  !  "  they  all  go  together  in  a 
prolonged,  piercing  squeak.  Nobody  pays  any  attention, 
for  all  hands  heard  the  order  and  look  upon  the  pipe 
rightly — as  a  preliminary  of  undoubted,  though  hard-to- 
explain  useliilness.     Then  the  large-lunged  three  take  in  a 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  71 

big  breath  apiece  and  bawl  loudly  and  drawlingly — as  if 
suffering  from  gigantic  stomach-aches  "  All — ^hands — furl — 
sail ! " 

^'•Man  the  gear T''  orders  McKizick  shortly.  "Mr. 
Briggs,  see  the  mizzen  t'bowlines  tended  this  time.  Keep 
down^  for' d  !  You  captains  of  the  tops,  keep  your  men  in 
till  they're  ordered  out.  No  stealing,  dy'e  hear.  Lay  in 
at  the  word,  furled  or  not  furled,  and  down  from  aloft  to- 
gether.    Let's  have  no  noise  aloft." 

"  Stand  by  to  lay  aloft !  Aloft^  light  yardmen  ! — aloft^ 
topmen!  aloft,  lower  yard  men!  Haul  taut!  Clew  up! 
Haul  doum  !  "  The  rigging  is  darkened  with  the  racing 
blue-jackets,  and,  as  they  seem  to  fly  aloft,  in  come  the 
sails,  vastly  reducing  the  amount  of  canvas  exposed  to 
view.  In  a  marvellously  short  space  of  time  the  men  are 
clustered  in  dark  knots  at  the  slings  of  the  yards,  awaiting 
with  eagerness  and  tense  muscles  the  next  command. 
They  know  McKizick  will  not  stop  now  to  criticise,  for 
that  isn't  his  style.  The  order  comes — ^^ Lay  out!'*'* 
and  out  they  dart,  swifter  and  more  reckless,  on  the  slen- 
der foot-ropes  aloft,  than  we  on  hard  ground.  Every 
man's  hand  seizes  the  government  property — ^the  loose  sail 
— quicker  than  a  politician  could  grab,  but  no  one  ventures 
to  lift  a  thread.  "  Furl  away  ! "  roars  McKizick,  and 
the  sails  roll  up  instantly.  A  faint  humming  sound  per- 
vades the  air. 

The  captain  of  the  main-top  cannot  restrain  himself, 
thinking  from  his  glance  across  that  the  foe  is  ahead  again  ; 
and  he  calls  out  in  a  voice  of  pent-up  agony  released.  "  Up 
bunt-jig  on  deck  !  " 

"  Silence  in  the  main  ! "  comes  quick  and  sharp  from 
Hai-tley  ;  and  then,  to  the  top  captain's  delight : 

"  Ready  to  lay  down  in  the  main,  sir,"  just  a  second 
before  Garnet  reports  the  fore.  Briggs  is  only  a 'trifle 
later. 

"Lay  in!  down  booms!  lay  down  from  aloft!"  and 
down  they  tumble,  arriving  on  deck  flushed  and  excited. 


72  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Lewis,  captain  of  the  fore-top,  a  slim,  tall  Yankee,  active 
as  a  cat,  pushes  aft  in  the  gangway  through  the  clustered 
groups  of  seamen  who  are  criticising  the  furl.  He  is 
jealous  of  the  main's  having  for  once  beaten  him,  and 
means  to  take  all  the  consolation  he  can  get.  The  main- 
top captains  and  a  few  seamen  are  discussing  the  furl  in  a 
low  voice,  and  chuckling  over  the  victory.  Honest  John 
Brown  2d,  who  hailed  the  deck,  is  especially  triumphant. 

"You  Brown,"  says  Lewis,  "when  everything  is 
workin'  nice  aloft,  you  hadn't  oughter  holler  out  that  way. 
Your  fellers  thought  it  was  the  first  luff  at  'em,  and 
jumped  as  if  the  devil  kicked  'em.  Didn't  calc'late  you 
had  got  the  deck.  That's  what  made  'em  work  so  fast 
and  so  dam  bad.  Jest  look  at  that  furl  now — and  come 
look  at  the  fore." 

"  That  furl's  good  enough,"  replies  Brown,  after  a  crit- 
ical squint  aloft.  "  Good  as  your'n.  I  'spect  I  better  keep 
my  jaw-tackle  belayed,  though.  First  luff '11  be  down  on 
me  like  a  gull  on  a  minner." 

"  Brown  !  "  comes  a  call  like  the  instant  fulfilment  of  a 
prophecy.  Poor  Brown's  face  falls.  It  is  McKizick  calls 
him,  and  the  tone  is  far  from  sweet.     ^^  Step  over  heref^ 

"  Told  yer  so,"  whispers  Lewis,  gliding  forward  to  keep 
clear  of  the  thunder. 

"Don't  the  officers  attend  the  gear  to  your  liking?" 
asks  McKizick  satirically. 

"  Lord,  sir,  it  warn't  that.  I  was  afeard  the  fore  would 
beat  us,  and  it  jeat  slipped  out  like  an  eel  from  your  fist," 
replies  the  penitent. 

"You'll  come  out  of  the  main -top  like  a  star  from  the 
sky,  if  you  don't  mind."  Then  McKizick  added,  in  a  lower 
voice  :  "  I  don't  want  to  break  you.  You're  a  good  top- 
captain  in  every  other  respect,  but  I  can't  be  always  after 
you  about  singing  out  aloft.     Look  out  for  yourself." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answers  Brown,  backing  out  with  a 
lively  assurance  that  the  first  luff  meant  business. 

The  men  were  eager,  and  McKizick  still  unsatisfied. 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  73 

He  meant  to  make  the  crew  efficient,  and  knew  the  value 
of  port  practice.  So,  unmindful  alike  of  the  sad  looks  of 
poor  Dularge,  whose  tender  body  was  tired  and  whose 
heart  not  in  the  work,  and  of  the  periodical  appearance 
above  the  after-hatch  combing  of  the  head  of  the  marine 
officer,  who  liked  his  meals  regular  and  foresaw  a  delayed 
dinner,  he  went  on  to  send  down  the  light  yards.  All  his 
brief  cautions  and  explanations  he  gave  before  the  men  left 
the  deck,  saving  a  great  deal  of  noise  and  worry  afterward. 
His  officers  had  been  instructed  not  to  hail  aloft,  except 
.when  absolutely  necessary,  and  the  top-captains  made  signs 
to  attentive  watchers  below  instead  of  keeping  up  a  chorus 
of  yells.  McKizick  and  the  captain  agreed  in  thinking 
that  such  noise  was  superfluous,  and  sounded  too  much  like 
orders  travelling  in  the  wrong  direction. 

The  exercise  went  on  till  even  McKizick  was  content. 

"  Well,  captain,  I  think  they're  doing  well,"  said  he. 

"  Very  well,  indeed,  replied  the  captain. 

« Shall  I  pipe  down,  sir?" 

"  I  think  you  had  better,  sir." 

Then  the  long-drawn  pipe  released  all  hands,  and  Du- 
large ruefully  relieved  the  first  luff,  to  stand  out  the  watch. 
Dularge  was  master,  and  thought  it  a  shame  to  have 
to  keep  a  watch  in  port,  but  Captain  Merritt  thought 
otherwise.  -    . 

The  ship  had  now  been  waiting  for  her  charts,  in  all  a 
month,  and  advantage  had  been  taken  of  the  delay  to  make 
the  crew  proficient,  both  at  the  guns  and  aloft.  Continual 
exercise  had  gone  far  toward  accomplishing  this  end. 

Hartley  and  Garnet  both  relished  their  professional 
work.  Garnet,  because  duty  was  always  his  engrossing 
thought;  and  Hartley,  because  he  too  was  conscientious 
about  giving  work  for  his  pay,  and  because  he  was  brim- 
ful of  life  and  hope  since  last  he  saw  Mary.  He  was 
impatient  to  see  her  again,  of  course,  but  he  found  the 
drills  good  to  work  off  that  impatience.  His  enthusiastic 
excitable  nature  made  him  take  an  interest  in  passing 
4 


74  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

work,  deeper  than  Garnet's  cool  appreciation.  He  would 
warm  to  it,  become  wrapped  up  in  it,  and  for  the  time 
would  be  oblivious  of  all  beside.  He  took  a  livelier  joy  in 
success  than  did  Garnet,  and  bad  results  depressed  him 
more.  Garnet  had  been  working  a  long  time  wnth  unfail- 
ing good-nature  on  this  mercurial  quality  of  his  friend's, 
although  he  could  not  but  see  the  uselessness  of  trying  to 
change  the  original  character  of  the  man. 

How  strange  it  is  that  people  generally  do  not  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  it  is  pains  in  vain  to  try  to  alter  charac- 
acter.  You  can't  change  a  man  by  pecking  at  him  :  the 
stuff  is  in  him,  and  the  best  you  can  do  is  to  get  him  to 
cover  it  up,  or  make  it  smooth.  The  diamond  is  a  rough 
pebble  in  its  native  state,  by  patient  labor  reaching  polish 
and  brilliancy  ;  but  so  long  as  it  is  a  diamond,  it  will  be 
hard  enough  to  scratch  anything  else,  and  will  possess  all 
the  other  essential  qualities  of  the  rough  stone.  So  with 
a  man.  And  as  fire  reduces  the  stone  to  a  cinder  and  dis- 
sipated vapor,  so  only  mighty  forces,  perhaps  only  that  of 
death,  can  really  change  a  man.  That  resolves  him  into 
ashes  and  floating  soul. 

Hartley  had  not  seen  Mary  since  the  evening  he  had 
called  with  Garnet.  He  was  hungering  and  thirsting  for 
her  as  only  the  genuine  absentee  lover  can.  He  had  writ- 
ten to  Mr.  Dewhurst  in  the  lofty  fashion  of  the  day,  in- 
forming him  of  his  aspirations,  and  had  received  from  that 
gentleman  a  reply  which  amounted  in  a  few  words  to  a 
permission  to  take  her  if  he  could  get  her.  Here  is  the 
letter  Mr.  Dewhurst  wrote  him  from  Philadelphia : 

"  Lieutenant  H.  Hartley,  U.  S.  K 
"  Sir  :  I  have  received  your  communication  of — th  inst., 
informing  me  of  your  wishes  with  regard  to  my  daughter. 
I  can  offer  no  objection,  believing  you  to  be  a  young  man 
of  good  principles,  able  to  support  my  daughter  properly ; 
and  hoping  that,  in  case  of  your  marriage  with  her,  you 
would  retain  enough  of  your  present  feeling  to  keep  her 


A   STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  75 

happy.  I  shall  therefore,  with  my  present  knowledge,  in- 
terpose no  obstacles,  but  I  shall  not  attempt  to  influence 
my  daughter  in  your  favor.  It  has  long  bee»  my  intention 
to  let  her  choose  (among  worthy  objects)  unbiassed  by  my 
wishes  or  judgment.  My  family  and  myself  leave  here 
next  week  in  the  brig  Bonita  for  Santa  Cruz,  where  we 
contemplate  a  residence  of  some  months.  We  shall  prob- 
ably visit  the  Havana,  also,  before  our  return. 
"  I  remain,  sir, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  Jno.  Dewhuest." 

So  it  was  settled  in  Hartley's  mind  that  he  was  to  see 
his  dear  again,  though  he  had  somehow  felt  as  if  that  were 
pretty  certain  ever  since  his  farewell.  Strangely  enough, 
he  did  not  now  worry  himself  about  the  possibility  of 
missing  her  or  of  finding  time  for  only  a  glance  at  her. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  was  not  half  willing  to  let  Mary  go,  and 
concealed  Hartley's  letter  even  from  his  wife,  lest  she 
might  influence  Mary  in  the  "  young  man's  "  behalf.  He 
grumbled  internally  at  the  idea  of  losing  her;  for  she  was 
an  ornament  to  his  house,  the  pride  of  his  heart,  and  had 
a  great  deal  of  his  afiection.  Still  he  could  not  but  admit 
to  himself  that  Hartley  was  a  very  suitable  son-in-law,  and 
he  reflected  that  as  Hartley's  wife,  Mary  could  pass  the 
time  of  long  cruises  with  her  mother.  Altogether  Hartley 
was  about  the  least  of  necessary  evils.  Mrs.  Dewhurst 
was  now  a  more  interested  friend  of  the  lieutenant's,  and 
Isabel,  putting  out  of  her  mind  the  slight  she  had  received 
-^she  would  have  valued  it  far  less  if  she  had  ever  been  in 
love  herself — did  what  little  she  could  in  wisdom,  to  help 
his  cause  along. 

All  Mary  needed  was  letting  alone.  With  all  her  inno- 
cence and  ignorance,  she  had  an  intuitive  inherited  pen- 
etration, which,  more  than  lack  of  opportunity,  had  kept 
her  out  of  love.  Martin's  chance  was  poor,  for  he  had 
always  been  too  intimate  and  brother-like  :  others  had  no 


76  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

chance  at  all,  because  Mary  saw  deficiencies  of  mind  and 
soul  in  men,  which  put  them  beneath  her  standard  and  the 
worthiness  of  tier  affection.  But  do  not  think  she  was  con- 
sciously measuring  and  gauging  the  men  she  met.  She 
tliought  very  seldom  of  marriage,  and  never  of  what  it 
would  be  to  pass  her  life  with  particular  persons.  So  when 
Hartley  came  along,  with  his  high  motives  and  enthusiasm, 
his  handsome  appearance,  gallant  bearing,  polish,  and 
devotion,  he  simply  dawned  upon  her  in  an  atmosphere 
and  in  a  light  of  love.  She,  too,  now  looked  back  with 
pleasure — a  pleasurable  emotion,  which  came  in  her  mus- 
ings alone — and  forward  with  joy,  though  some  dread 
was  mingled  with  the  expectancy. 

Hartley  had  bad  quarter-hours  by  this  time.  Now  and 
then  he  would  get  into  a  cold  sweat  of  doubt,  full  of  fears 
that  he  had  been  mistaken  in  his  deductions.  Garnet 
rather  liked  these  short  fits,  for  they  gave  him  considerable 
relief.  Ordinarily  his  friend  took  every  occasion  to  get 
him  alone,  and  go  off  into  raptures.  Garnet  bore  them 
with  patient  fortitude,  feeling  well-assured  from  his  one 
evening's  observation,  that  his  friend  was  in  a  fair  way 
sooner  or  later  to  obtain  his  Dulcinea.  He  was  not  so  sure 
as  to  her  suitability  to  "his  boy"  (as  he  sometimes  called 
and  always  thought  Hartley),  but  he  believed  Miss  Terrell 
would  have  made  a  good  wife.  He  even  wondered  if  it 
were  not  possible  that  he  could  have  married  such  a  woman 
as  that,  himself;  and  he  more  than  once  sat  down  to  think 
out  coolly,  in  calculus  style,  a  solution  of  what  life  would 
be  with  such  a  woman  sharing  him  and  demanding  his  at- 
tention In  every  relation.  He  always  reached  a  negative 
result,  or  went  off  into  infinity,  because  his  data  were  in- 
sufficient ;  but  somehow  the  singular  attraction  of  the 
problem  would  demand  a  reconsideration. 

The  charts  came  in  a  few  days  after  the  exercise  we 
have  described.  There  was  a  hurried  laying  in  of  stores  for 
officers'  messes,  a  bringing  off  of  books  and  other  shore  lux- 
uries, a   penning   of  farewell  letters   to  sweethearts   and 


A    STOKY    OF    THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  77 

wives ;  and  then,  on  a  bright  morning,  with  the  wind  in 
the  northwest,  the  pilot  came  on  board,  and  McKizick  got 
the  ship  under  way  in  style.  They  ran  down  the  bay  and 
out  past  the  Hook  without  accident. 

Hartley  was  almost  the  only  one  who  seemed  perfectly 
buoyant  and  happy,  for  while  nearly  all  were  either  indif- 
ferent or  had  ties  more  or  less  strong  in  the  land  they  were 
leaving,  he  longed  for  the  isles  of  the  south  and  the  rapid 
flight  of  time.  When  the  pilot  left  them,  remarking  on 
the  fine  manner  in  which  the  men  worked,  Hartley  felt  as 
if  he  had  a  start. 

With  good  weather  and  fair  winds  they  made  southing 
rapidly.  Everything  seemed  to  be  working  together  for 
good  to  Hartley,  but  poor  Martin  was  attending  very 
closely  to  business  at  that  time,  trying  to  forget. 

When  the  crew  came  on  board,  and  after  they  had 
been  berthed  and  assigned  to  their  separate  messes,  the 
captain  made  them  a  little  speech.  He  had  all  hands 
called  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  spoke  short  and  sharp 
as  follows  : 

"Well,  my  men,  we're  all  aboard  to  serve  together  for 
some  time.  To  serve^  mind  you.  Everybody  on  board, 
myself  included,  has  to  obey  his  superior  officers.  Wo 
have  surrendered  our  liberty,  and  all  our  time  and  work 
belongs  to  the  United  States.  I  shall  obey  my  superior 
officers,  and  you  will  have  to  obey  me  and  my  repre- 
sentatives on  this  side  of  the  quarter-deck.  Just  bear  that 
in  mind. 

"I  don't  like  to  punish  my  shipmates  ;  but  when  I  am 
forced  to  do  it,  I  do  it  well." 

"  I  mean  you  shall  all  be  as  comfortable  as  the  duty 
we  are  going  on  will  permit,  and  when  there's  a  chance 
you  shall  have  all  the  liberty  on  shore  possible.  I  feel  it 
my  duty  to  warn  you  against  the  danger  of  excesses  on 
shore  in  a  hot  climate,  but  I  suppose  you  will  act  as  sailor 
men  commonly  act. 

**  I  don't  like  shirks,  and  I  don't  want  the  honest  men 


78  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

aboard  to  screen  them.  The"  man  that  lies  to  save  a  shirk's 
back  isn't  much  better  himself.  Let  the  petty  officers 
remember  it  is  a  part  of  their  duty  to  look  sharp  after  any- 
thing of  the  kind.     Pipe  down,  sir." 

The  men  dispersed  thoughtfully,  and  appeared  to  be 
talking  it  over. 

A  man-of-war  must  have  a  despotic  government  or  be 
useless  in  the  supreme  hour  of  need.  Effective  combined 
action — that  is  to  say,  efficiency — must  come  from  the 
plans  of  one  person  who  has  power  to  carry  out  his  plans. 
This  is  the  history  of  the  world  everywhere,  and  this  is 
why  Navy  life  is  only  a  higher  kind  of  slavery.  The  peo- 
ple ashore  who  pay  taxes  to  keep  their  navy  good  and 
efficient,  should  remember  this.  Their  officers  have  a  great 
deal  to  bear,  but  are  content  to  endure  it  for  the  country's 
good.  With  the  feeling  to  meet  on  shore  among  his  fel- 
low-citizens that  he  is  a  would-be  aristocrat,  with  a  life  at 
sea  of  danger  and  exposure,  separated  from  his  family, 
unable  from  the  requirements  of  his  position  to  save  up 
any  money  against  his  old  age,  and  trusted  with  so  little 
power  as  to  be  in  constant  dread  of  failure  in  controlling 
the  turbulent  spirits  over  whom  he  is  placed,  the  United 
States  naval  officer  has  a  hard  time  and  a  far  from  en- 
viable place.  The  feeling  of  the  people  who  have,  through 
their  Congress,  destroyed  the  discipline  of  the  Navy  by 
humanitarian  legislation,  is  a  good  feeling;  but  it  is 
misapplied. 

A  number  of  persons  signify  their  willingness  to  guard 
the  honor  of  the  nation  on  the  high  seas.  As  the  country 
does  not  wish  to  pay  much  money  the  force  is  small,  and 
to  be  useful  it  must  have  a  fine  discipline,  all  of  which  is 
seen  by  the  force  itself.  Hence  its  members  virtually  say  : 
"We  do  agree  to  sacrifice  to  our  country's  service,  as 
needed,  our  comfort,  our  hope  of  future  wealth,  our  chil- 
dren's welfare,  our  health,  our  lives  ;  and,  that  our  fellow- 
citizens  may  enjoy  a  more  perfect  freedom,  we  also  give  up 
our  liberty  and  our  will." 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  T9 

The  country  certainly  ought  to  grant  to  such  servants 
at  least  the  satisfaction  of  confidence  :  it  ought  to  trust 
them  with  the  means  needed  for  their  own  discipline.  If 
the  power  be  abused,  the  offender  should,  by  all  means,  be 
severely  punished,  but  his  whole  class  should  not  be  in- 
cluded. Trust  the  service  with  the  means  of  its  own  gov- 
ernance, and  punish  thoroughly  those  who  use  the  power 
wrongfully. 

Thoughtful  men  will  not  fail  to  reflect  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  carry  out  Christianity  in  the  Navy.  The  Navy  is 
in  the  very  fact  of  its  existence,  unchristian  ;  it  is  an  instru- . 
ment  of  revenge,  of  unforgiveness,  of  death  to  the  offender. 
As  long  as  nations  must  fight,  as  savages  remain  savage, 
it  will,  however,  be  thought  necessary.  It  should  be  re- 
garded rightly,  as  a  weapon,  and  the  people  should  stop 
trying  to  make  it  such  a  weapon  as  will  be  consistent  with 
the  teachings  of  Him  who  would  not  defend  himself,  but 
commanded  Peter  to  put  up  the  sword.  They  have  swal- 
lowed the  camel,  let  them  not  strain  at  the  gnat.  In  plain 
English,  since  they  have  fought  in  the  past,  and  mean  to 
fight  in  the  future,  let  them  prepare  properly.  Let  them 
not,  sticking  absurdly  at  trifles,  fool  away  the  force  of  the 
Navy  in  humanitarian  legislation,  but  let  them  go  on  to 
make  it  efficient,  by  giving  ofiicers  the  means  to  govern 
the  crews. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing  things  were  differ- 
ent. A  few  days  after  sailing,  the  master-at-arms  brought 
to  the  mast  a  man  who  had  been  in  his  hammock  when  his 
watch  was  on  deck  at  night.  The  captain  of  his  top  had 
missed  him,  after  he  had  answered  to  his  muster,  and  cer- 
tain of  his  topmates  deposed  to  seeing  him  slip  below. 
Captain  Merritt  did  not  hesitate,  but  had  all  hands  called 
to  witness  punishment  at  once.  After  a  dozen  blows  had 
been  well  laid  on,  he  had  the  man  unbound,  and  spoke 
kindly  to  him,  telling  him  his  fault  was  now  expiated,  he 
was  as  good  a  man  as  ever;   and  urging  him  to  take  a 


80  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

fresh  start,  and  get  a  name  pn  board  for  a  smart  faithful 
seaman.  As  it  happened  this  man  was  reclaimable  ;  and 
he  afterward  not  only  avoided  giving  trouble,  but  distin- 
guished himself  for  diligence. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


rpHE  first  night  they  struck  the  Gulf  Stream,  Hartley  had 
-*-  the  watch  on  deck.  The  pleasant  warmth  of  the  air, 
the  bright  moon  and  its  multitudinously  changing  glitter- 
ings  upon  the  waves,  the  sky  without  a  cloud,  and  happy 
thoughts,  all  joined  to  make  him  patient  of  his  watch. 
The  sails  needed  no  attention,  and  force  of  habit  kept  him 
scanning  the  horizon  for  any  threatened  change  of  weather, 
without  thought  of  what  he  w^as' doing.  So  his  mind  was 
left  free  to  dwell  upon  the  favorite  subject — the  incompar- 
able she — Mary. 

What  a  queer  and  funny  thing  is  a  man  in  love,  anyway  ! 
He  loses  his  dignity  almost  always,  his  wits  invariably, 
and  does  things  which  would  warrant  the  world  in  locking 
him  up.  But  the  good  old  world  knows  its  children  too 
well,  and  is  satisfied  with  laughing  at  them  during  the 
period  of  this  short  soft  derangement.  Mother  World 
looks  on  it  as  a  disease — a  sort  of  ridiculous  measles. 
The  older  you  have  it,  the  worse  for  you. 

Hartley  fell  involuntarily  into  an  old  trick,  and  began 
composing  a  sonnet  to  his  mistress's  eyebrow,  in  the  form 
of  a  serenade,  thinking  in  the  intervals  of  the  rhymes,  how 
he  would  gently  steal  at  night  beneath  Mary's  window  in 
Santa  Cruz,  and  there  pour  forth  his  full  soul.  He  ima- 
gined the  scene  :  a  fine  large  moon — "  a  good  fat  moon  "  as 
clever  Billy  W.  used  to  say — looking  on  with  mellow  ap- 
proval, vines  clinging  to  her  balcony  and  swaying  in  the 
breeze,  "glimmering,  murmuring  mystical  waters  near,  and 
my  love  alone  to  hear  !  "   So  ran  his  serenade.     He  sings  his 


A    STOEY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  81 

best,  and  no  accident  occurs  to  annoy — not  even  a  guitar 
string  snaps.  He  ends,  and  glancing  upward  he  sees  the 
snowy  curtain  parted,  and  down  flatters  a — what  ?  a 
flower?  might  miss  that  in  the  dark.  A  handkerchief? 
Well,  no — he  remembers  the  use  of  the  handkerchief,  and 
even  angelic  girls  have  a  cold  in  the  head  sometimes. 
He  repels  the  handkerchief  with  disgust.  A  little  bunch 
of  violets  breathing  the  language  of  love,  and  tied  around 
with  blue  and  white  ribbons,  colors  of  faith  and  purity.  He 
would  be  sure  to  see  the  white.  And  he  would  smell  it — 
h'm — quaff  its  sweet  odor,  and  place  it  in  his  pocket — his 
bosom,  and  go  away  content.  And  then — and  then — and 
then.     Well,  what  then  ? 

But  suppose  Mr.  Dewhurst  should  wake  up  and  come 
to  the  window,  and  ask  him  in  good  English  what  the 
devil  he  was  making  all  that  fuss  about.  That  would  be 
embarrassing. 

He  was  relieved  from  this  strait  by  the  appearance  of 
Garnet  coming  up  the  ladder  to  take  a  turn  with  him  on 
deck,  preparatory  to  taking  a  turn  into  his  bunk,  and  he 
found  that  during  his  soliloquy  the  ship  had  got  half  a 
point  off  her  course,  and  the  main-top-gallant  studding-sail 
was  gently  lifting  in  the  light  air.  Johnson,  the  quarter- 
master, had  been  spinning  the  man  at  the  helm  a  yarn 
about  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones. 

Garnet  joined  him,  and  they  walked  rapidly  back  and 
forth  for  a  few  turns,  like  beasts  in  a  menagerie  cage,  in 
the  customary  manner  of  naval  officers.  When  they  once 
began  to  talk  the  pace  naturally  slackened. 

"  Those  mids  are  queer  creatures.  I've  been  one  my- 
self, but  I  can't  quite  understand  'em.  They're  always  sur- 
prising you,  one  way  or  another." 

"Yes,  very." 

"  Coming  up  the  ladder  in  front  of  the  steerage,  I  saw 
what  was  going  on.     One  or  two  were  pretending  to  study 
— Spanish,  I  suppose — but  were  a  heap  more  interested  in 
listening  to  the  boatswain." 
4* 


82  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"Is  old  Thick  in  there  ?  " 

"  Yes.  They've  got  him  telling  stories  about  the 
*Callypaykus' — Gallapagos  he  means — and  they're  draw- 
ing him  out  in  a  fine  style.  The  gunner  is  in  too.  I  heard 
him  called  'Dry  Bob,'  *Sly  Bob,'  and  ^dle  Bob,'  by 
those  irreverent  youngsters,  while  I  was  on  the  ladder." 

"  How  did  he  take  it  ?  " 

"ZTe  didn't  care." 

"  He  has  a  dry,  lazy  look  about  him." 

"  Yes,  he's  a  queer  fellow  :  but  he  attends  to  his  busi- 
ness well.  If  he  associates  with  those  cubs,  he  must  expect 
cubs'  play ;  but  it  sounds  unnatural  to  hear  an  old, 
gray-headed — " 

A  sudden  roar  of  laughter  came  up  the  hatch  from  the 
steerage,  and  stopped  Garnet's  speech.  They  walked  to 
the  hatch  rail  to  find  out  what  was  the  matter.  Evi- 
dently the  steerage  was  enjoying  itself,  for  the  laugh  went 
on,  mixed  with  the  <jrash  of  falling  camp-stools  and  loud 
exclamations  of  **  Go  it,  William,  I  bet  on  you  !  "  "  Hang 
on.  Dry  Bob  !  "  "  Call  him  Idle  again  ?  "  "  Five  to  one 
on  Thick ! " 

The  rogues  had  got  both  boatswain  and  gunner  to 
boasting  of  their  past  feats  of  strength  and  agility,  and 
had  finally  led  them  into  a  wrestling  match.  Suddenly 
there  was  a  great  calm,  and  McKizick's  voice  arose. 
*'  Hope  you're  not  hurt,  Mr.  Thick,  or  you  Mr.  Harri- 
son ?  "  he  asked,  with  apparent  solicitude. 

"  Oh  no,  sir,"  stammered  Thick,  who  was  the  first  to 
get  breath,  **  a  bit  of  a  lark — that's  all,  sir — only  the  young 
gentlemen  made  a  devil  of  a  row — they  might  a'  made  less 
noise,  I  mean,  sir — regular  hurrah's  nest.'* 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  you  remain,  uninjured,  sir,"  said 
McKizick,  preserving  his  gravity,  "  and  I  am  delighted  to 
have  such  a  valuable  set  of  midshipmen.  They  have  made 
you  and  Mr.  Harrison  young  again  to-night.  But,  young 
gentlemen,  you  must  moderate  your  transports."  With 
rising  voice  he  went  on  :  "  If  you  think  you  can  make  a 


A   STORY   OF  THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  83 

monkeys'  den  of  this  steerage  for  your  tricks  and  noise,  you 
are  mistaken — and  you'll  find  your  mistake — you  will  by — 
jiminy  !  no  more  of  this  after  eight  bells  !  "  There  was  a 
dread  silence  in  the  steerage  as  he  walked  away,  but  in  a 
moment  was  heard  the  voice  of  the  boatswain,  grieved, 
angry,  and  restrained.  *'Now  Mr.  Larkin,  and  you,  too, 
Mr,  Young,  I  suppose  you  feel  nice  to  get  me  to  make  a 
fool  of  myself  that  way,"  A  subdued  laugh  from  the  irre- 
pressible and  undaunted  youngsters  was  the  reply. 

Hartley  and  Garnet  laughed  a  little  too,  accustomed  as 
they  were  to  the  pranks  of  midshipmen,  and  then  resumed 
their  walk. 

^  "  Dularge  has  been  trying  to  explain  the  principles  of 
dead  rise  to  Briggs — you  know  Briggs  is  hunting  up  infor- 
mation everywhere — and  Robbins  overheard  a  part  of  what 
they  were  saying.  After  awhile  he  went  into  the  pay- 
master's room,  and  I  heard  him  growling  to  Pay  that  we 
line  officers  thought  ships  came  in  everywhere.  *  There's 
Dularge  out  there,'  says  he,  *  telling  Briggs  all  the  ships 
will  appear  bottom  side  up  at  the  resurrection.' " 

"  Resurrection  ?  " 

"  Yes — he  caught  at  dead  rise^  you  know." 

"Ha— ha— ha.— " 

Silence  for  a  while. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about  to-night  ?  " 

"I  was  just  wondering  if  the  Dewhursts  would  get  a 
vessel  to  Santa  Cruz  in  time  to  be  there  when  we  are." 

"  I  should  think  that  all  settled  from  Mr.  Dewhurst's 
letter  to  you.  They  are  probably  afloat  now.  But  you 
seem  to  take  it  for  granted  that  we  are  sure  to  go  to 
Santa  Cruz." 

"  Why  yes :  don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Don't  know.  Can't  tell  till  we  get  to  Key  West.  I 
suppose  we  shall  though." 

Silence  again  for  a  few  moments,  while  the  soft  wind 
fanned  their  faces,  and  the  waves  glistened,  and  the  parted 
water  murmured  beneath  the  bows. 


84:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Wish  the  breeze  would  freshen,"  said  Hartley. 

"  'Twill  before  morning.     What  is  she  doing  ?  " 

"  Six,  two." 

Silence  again.     Garnet  broke  it. 

"  Harry,  a  perplexing  thought  has  been  on  my  mind." 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  You  know  the  theory  of  the  trades,  how  the  easting 
is  obtained  by  the  wind's  constantly  arriving  at  points  on 
the  earth's  surface  whose  velocity  of  revolution  is  greater 
than  its  own  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  know." 

"  Well,  that  set  me  to  thinking  about  the  difference  of 
centrifugal  force  on  the  equator  and  at  places  away  from 
it.     The  rg^ius  of  revolution  differs  according  to  latitude." 

"  Yes." 

"  And  each  point  of  the  surface  requires  the  same  time 
to  go  around — twenty-four  hours.  The  theory  is  that  the 
attracjtion  of  gravity  is  enough  and  a  little  to  spare  to  bal- 
ance the  centrifugal  force  that  tends  to  throw  a  fellow  into 
space  like  a  stone  out  of  a  sling.  There's  a  little  in  favor 
of  gravity — ^just  enough  to  make  a  man  firm  on  his  feet. 
But  if  gravity  is  always  the  same  and  toward  the  centre, 
I  should  think — it  looks  like  bodies  should  weigh  more  as 
we  get  toward  the  poles,  where  the  centrifugal  force  be- 
comes zero." 

«Yes." 

*'  I  don't  understand  it.  Maybe  the  resolution  of  the 
forces  will  do  it." 

*'  Yes." 

"  Now  it  looks  as  if  gravity  must  act  toward  the  axis 
and  with  diminishing  force  toward  the  poles,  instead  of 
uniformly  toward  the  centre.  On  the  last  supposition  a 
person  would  get  heavier  and  heavier  travelling  north,  and 
at  last  would  hardly  be  able  to  lift  a  foot — like  a  lump  of 
lead,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  she  n^ight,  perhaps,"  replied  Hartley 
abstractedly. 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  85 

"She?    Who?" 

«  Why,  Miss  Dewhurst." 

«  Ha-ha-ha." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Will.  My  wits  were  wool- 
gathering." 

"  In  the  thick  ringlets  of  her  clustering  hair,  eh?  "  said 
Garnet  good-humoredly.  "  Well,  old  chap,  I  sympathize 
with  you.     We  may  be  happy  yet." 

"  Will,  love  on  earth  is  a  fallen  spirit — " 

"  I'll  tell  Miss  Mary  that,"  put  in  Garnet. 

"A  fallen  spirit,  I  say.  Once  it  was  all  pure,  now  it  is 
weakened  by  carnality.  Love  has  the  instinct  of  striving 
to  regain  his  old  home  in  heaven,  and  he  uses  the  only 
means  he  sees  possible  to  return.  Men  are  his  bearers,  and 
he  tries  them  all.  Nearly  all  carry  him  well  for  awhile, 
but  each  tires  at  last  and  puts  him  down." 

"  In  thafyou  sacrificed  the  truth  before  your  figure." 

"Shut  up. — Will,  being  in  love  is  like  going  up  in  a 
balloon.  Sometimes  we  burst  and  drop.  Sometimes  we 
come  down  in  a  sea  of  troubles,  or  of  cold  water — maybe, 
hot  water — but  we  generally  settle  down  easily  on  solid 
ground  and  get  back  to  where  we  started — indiflference." 

"  O,  philosopher  !  stay  with  us  awhile,  since  you  have 
descended.  Your  last  remark  is  unusually  sensible — for 
you,  Hal.     I  might  have  made  it  myself."  * 

"  So  might  a  pig." 

"  But  I  didn't  and  wouldn't  be  likely.  I  cheerfully  take 
my  part  with  the  pig.     We  are  not  guilty." 

They  walked  up  and  down  a  few  minutes  longer,  and 
Garnet  said  he  believed  he  would  turn  in. 

"  What's  your  hurry  ?    Don't  go  yet,"  said  Hartley. 

**I've  the  morning  watch  to  stand,  you  know — and  you 
are  in  good  company,  any  how,  with  Miss  Mary.'* 

"  Well,"  said  Hartley  ,  "  I  only  hope  that  wherever  she 
is  to-night  she  is  in  company  with  me." 

Garnet  left  him  hurriedly,  muttering  something  to  him- 


86  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

self  about  wishing  Harry  would  get  through  soon,  he  was 
no  good  now — and  Hartley  was  alone. 

He  looked  out  on  the  water  lit  up  by  the  sinking  moon 
in  a  broad  golden  road  to  the  west,  and  admired  its  beauty. 
The  moon  went  down  and  thoughts  of  doubt  crept  over 
him  with  the  darkness.  He  tried  to  shake  them  off,  unsuc- 
cessfully :  he  roused  the  watch  up  for  a  pull  at  the  stud- 
ding sail  halliards,  hoping  that  the  stir  would  dissipate  his 
vapors;  but  that  also  was  ineffectual.  Fears  that  his  love 
was  not  returned,  fears  of  not  meeting  Mary  according  to 
his  previous  expectations,  fears  for  her  safety  on  the  pas- 
sage, fears  for  his  own — strange  fears  for  him — beset  him. 
Gradually,  however,  his  mind  worked  off  the  old  ground 
on  to  new,  and  from  the  field  of  love  went  to  that  of  belief. 
Here  Hartley  had  always  found  trouble  and  pain.  To- 
night he  wondered  at  the  doctrine  of  the  redemption  of 
souls.  He  thought  that  surely  the  Father  could  save  his 
children,  if  he  would,  by  a  simple  exercise  of  power,  because 
they  were  his  children,  He,  their  Father  who  loved  them. 
He  thought  he  ought  to  save  them  because  He  had  made 
them  subject  to  fate,  and  because  everywhere  in  the  world 
they  were  looking  to  Him  under  some  guise,  instinctively, 
as  their  Father.  He  thought  it  would  be  unjust  of  God  to 
hold  men  responsible  for  the  circumstances  which  sur- 
rounded them  and  by  which  He  did  mould  them.  He 
thought  it  too  cruel  an  action  to  ascribe  to  Mercy  to  make 
myriads  of  human  beings  with  a  capacity  for  suffering, 
knowing  that  vast  numbers  of  them  would  suffer  eternally. 
He  thought  that  perhaps  sin  itself  was  intended  as  a  means 
of  education.  Is  it  right,  he  thought,  to  hate  sin  as  the 
preachers  bid  us.  Or  should  we  see  in  it  some  good,  and 
a  part  of  the  Divine  plan.  Sin  may  be  the  necessary  expe- 
rience of  souls  in  the  growth -of  the  world,  the  rough  mixture 
of  cold  winter's  snow  and  frost  and  wind  which  must  come 
be'fore  the  spring  of  the  hereafter  can  make  buds  bloom,  or 
the  eternal  summer  can  ripen  any  fruit. 

He  thought  that  if  Christ  be  really  God  and  mediator,  as 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  87 

is  upheld,  his  death  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  atone  for  all  the 
sins  of  all  men,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the  death  of  God.  He 
thought  that  in  another  state,  men  or  souls  might  come  to 
a  knowledge  of  truth  here  withheld,  and  learn  to  repent, 
enduring  a  punishment  meet  for  their  earthly  sins  mean- 
while. Then  he  wandered  farther  back  and  doubted. 
What  is  God  ?  Perhaps  the  principle  of  motion,  life,  and 
reproduction,  existent  of  itself,  unconscious  but  eternally 
working.  The  thought  made  him  sad.  Perhaps  he  is  the 
soul  of  men,  living  a  part  in  each — a  Brahma.  Perhaps 
after  death,  each  soul  returns  to  Brahma,  the  soul  of  all, 
whence  it  came.  Like  the  waters  of  Abana,  which  flow 
in  beauty,  making  the  land  alive  about  them  ;  which  are 
lost  in  the  outspreading  of  a  black  morass;  which,  by 
evaporation,  return  to  the  common  source  of  all  streams — • 
the  bosom  of  the  air.  The  conceit  pleased  him,  and  led 
him  off  into  working  it  up  into  poetic  form  ;  so  that  he  for- 
got his  doubts,  though  they  remained  as  they  must  remain 
to  us  all,  unsolved  by  reason.  So  interested  was  he  in 
the  new  occupation  that  he  did  not  hear  the  quartermas- 
ter droninfUs  to  the  man  at  the  wheel  his  yarns  about 
Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  nor  the  reports  of  the  mid- 
shipman who  hove  the  log,  and  to  whom  he  gave  mechani- 
cal directions. 

Midnight  came  before  he  knew  it.  The  bell  was 
struck,  the  watch  was  called,  and  in  a  few  minutes  Briggs 
came  reeling  up  the  ladder,  drunk  with  the  heavy  sleep  of 
youth.  Hartley  was  still  fresh  enough  to  remain  on  deck 
awhile,  and  kindly  talk  Briggs  awake.  Then  he  sought 
his  state-room  and  his  three-foot  bunk,  to  forget  Mary  and 
all  the  world  in  deep  sleep. 

Next  morning  after  the  exercise  at  thei  battery,  the 
three  quartermasters  came  together  a  little  abaft  the  miz- 
zen-mast,  and  sitting  down  on  deck  in  the  warm  sun,  went 
to  work  on  a  new  ensign.  The  three  had  chosen  this  cosy 
spot  for  their  headquarters  in  good  weather,  because  there 
was  no  gear  near  them  which  required  handling  and  made 


88  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

it  necessary  for  them  to  move  about.  Johnson  (Ap  Jones) 
usually  did  the  talking  for  the  party.  He  had  seen  a  great 
many  things  in  his  wanderings  over  the  seas ;  and  being 
in  addition  endowed  by  nature  with  volum'mosity  and  a 
pretty  thick  skin,  he  possessed  all  the  requisites  of  a  sea 
talker.  He  had  dubbed  their  party  the  Sociable  Cluh^  and 
the  name  had  already  become  attached  to  it  among  the 
crew ;  so  whenever  the  three  came  together,  somebody 
was  sure  to  remark  on  the  Sociable  Club's  having  met. 

Drawing  out  needles  and  thread  from  their  diddy-bags 
they  began  to  stitch  up  the  long-lapped  seams  with  a  neat- 
ness and  dexterity  which  bore  witness  to  years  of  practice. 
Presently,  when  the  work  was  fairly  under  way,  Ap  Jones, 
twisting  his  long  neck  to  bring  the  spittoon  in  range,  com- 
menced, "  That  feller  Jackson  is  lucky  this  cruise." 

"Who's  he?" 

*'  That  foretop-man  that  got  licked  yesterday." 

"  What's  the  luck  in  a  lickin',  Ap  ?  " 

"  They  say  the  man  that  gets  the  first  dozen  never  gets 
it  no  more." 

"  It's  a  lie  if  they  do,  for  I  was  licked  twice't  j|i  one  ship." 

"  Where,  was  that  ?  " 

"  When  I  was  ornery  seaman  in  the  States  frigate. 
Old  Quillbelly  was  the  first  luff." 

"Well,  that  doesn't  prove  nothin'.  A  young  man  like 
you  gettin'  twice't  licked  in  one  ship  is  no  sign.  Sur- 
prisin'  if  you  didn't  get  more  lickin's  than  there  is  reef- 
points  in  all  the  taups'Ies.  'Twixt  old  Quillbelly  and 
you  with  your  sky-larkin'  boy  tricks." 

"  I  never  was  catted  but  the  twice^t,  Ap  Jones.  What 
are  you  talkin'  about  me  for,  you  old  growl  ?  I  bet  my 
head  to  a  pumpkin  your  back  has  been  like  a  Cadiz  winder 
oftener  than  twice't." 

Ap  was  suddenly  very  busy  threading  his  needle.  He 
began  again  : 

"  When  I  was  in  the  Ohio  liner-battle-ship  round  the 
Horn  with  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R — " 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  89 

"  Take  a  turn  with  Thomas  Ap,"  broke  in  Thompson, 
"  I  want  you  to  tell  me  how  many  times  you've  been  at 
the  gratin's." 

"  It's  little  enough  politeness  ye've  got,  anyhow, 
Thompson.  If  the  angel  Peter  was  to  open  the  hatch  o* 
heaven  a  crack  to  let  you  slip  in  edgeways — I  don't  mean 
to  say  he  will,  for  it's  bloody  sure  he  won't — but  jest 
s'posin'  he  did  forget  himself,  you'd  never  stop  to  make 
him  a  bow." 

"Devil  a  bow.  I'd  go  below.  But  what's  all  this  pal- 
aver about?  You  axed  me  and  I  told  ye  :  now  turn 
about's  fair  play." 

"Young  man,  you've  got  a  sight  to  learn  more'n  your 
seamanship,  and  that's  but  jest  begun." 

"Burke,  Ap  would  jest  as  lief  tell,  but  he's  had  such  a 
sail  burton-fall  o'  cattin's  in  various  parts  o'  the  world, 
he  can't  remember  the  half  of  'era.  Give  him  a  month  to 
recollect  'em  and  it'll  take  him  the  rest  o'  the  cruise  to 
spin  his  yarn." 

Johnson  merely  requested  Burke  to  hand  him  a  roll  of 
bunting,  and  went  on  working  without  either  reply  or  irri- 
tation. Indeed  none  of  them  thought  of  being  angry,  for 
they  were  merely  chaffing  in  rough  sailor  style. 

Presently  Ap ;  "  When  I  first  shipped  in  the  sarvice, 
I  was  a  scrap  of  a  youngster,  no  longer'n  a  whale's  hind 
leg.  I  went  out  in  one  o'  them  old  revolution  brigs,  and  I 
was  stationed  to  hand  the  fore-r'yal.  Lord  love  ye  !  I  was 
no  more  use  on  the  yard  when  I  got  there  than  water 
in  grog.  You  see  I  was  disp'inted  in  findin'  the  sea  differ- 
ent from  what  I  expected,  and  sort  o'  sulky  like  with  my 
monkey's  allowance,  more  kicks  nor  halfpence,  and  bein' 
all  hands'  messenger  boy,  and  I  didn't  know  much  nohow, 
for  I'd  never  been  aboard  nothin'  better  nor  a  coaster,  nor 
higher  nor  the  futtock  riggin'  in  them,  and  that  none  too 
often.  Besides,  you  see,  I  was  not  very  smart  and  lively  as 
a  hoy,  nohow.  So  I  ketches  it  all  round.  I  had  a  trick  o* 
standin'  still  so  long  I  couldn't  get  out  o'  the  way  quick 


90  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

enough  at  last ;  and  whoever  it  was  would  fall  over  me,  not 
bein'  much  higher  nor  a  shark's  foreleg,  and  come  down  by 
the  run.  Then  I'd  get  kicked  and  cussed  for  a  lubber  with  his 
leg  in  the  ground — or  maybe  if  'twas  the  hands  runnin'  away 
with  a  brace  they'd  go  on  right  over  me  and  nigh  stomp  me 
to  death.  I  learned  soon  enough  to  jump  for  that,  but  if 
'twas  a  man  I'd  a  grudge  against,  I'd  stand  still  sometimes 
and  let  him  go  over  me,  in  hopes,  ye  see,  that  he'd  break 
his  darn  head  on  an  eye-bolt  or  a  shot-rail  or  somethin' 
else  hard  enough  ;  and  the  minute  I  felt  him  goin'  I'd  call 
on  the  captain  of  the  afterguard  on  the  lee  side  o'  the  quar- 
ter-deck. Sometimes  they'd  recollect  me  a  watch  through, 
but  most  generally  they'd  forget.  Now  the  first  luff  was  a 
powerful  observin'  man,  and  he  noticed  how  I  was  up  to 
gettin'  safe  under  the  lee  of  the  officer  o'  the  deck  till 
the  squalls  was  over,  and  he  suspicioned  I  throwed  the 
men  o'  purpose.  He  never  said  nothin'  to  me  though,  till 
one  day  I  tried  it  on  him.  He  come  up  the  cabin  lad- 
der from  a  palaver  with  the  old  man,  and  jest  as  he  set 
foot  on  the  quarter-deck — looking  aft,  you  know — the 
lee  fore-taups'le  sheet  parted.  The  sail  begun  for  to 
flop  and  bang — it  was  blowin'  like  hell — and  he  turned 
round  quicker'n  a  shot  and  started  to  run  for'd  to  see  what 
was  the  matter.  I  never  know'd  what  made  me  do  it,  but 
I  jumped  right  across  his  bows,  pretendin'  to  be  goin' 
to  the  weather-rail,  jest  as  he  come  a  flyin'  past  the  main- 
mast, and  me  bein'  somethin'  shorter  nor  a  whale's  foreleg — 
what's  the  matter  o'  you  Thompson  ? — and  bein'  somethin' 
shorter  nor  a  whale's  hind  leg,  he  naturally  fell  over  me. 
Laws-a-land !  You  oughter  see  him  !  Fust  he  took  a  rank 
sheer  to  port,  then  he  went  down  by  the  head,  then  he 
fairly  grounded  and  went  on  his  beam-ends.  When  he 
got  up  there  I  was  a  settin'  on  my  stern  sheets,  tryin'  to 
look  like  I  was  hurt,  and  nigh  bustin'  open  with  the  laugh 
I  had  to  hold  in.  He  said  nothin'  to  me  then,  but  about  an 
hour  afterward  when  the  captain  come  on  deck  to  see  who 
was  hollerin'  it  was  me.     He  give  me  a  dozen,  and  told  me 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  91 

he  would  like  to  see  me  improvin'  on  the  fore-r'yal  yard. 
And  it  was  surprisin'  how  much  faster  I  learnt  after 
I  had  that  lickin'." 

"  Served  you  right." 

"  Sartinly.  Nothin'  makes  good  sailors  but  knowin* 
they'll  get  licked  if  they  don't  tend  to  their  dooty.  That 
feller  Jackson — I  heard  him  tellin'  the  armorer's  mate  he 
'lowed  to  keep  his  watch  on  deck  after  this." 

"The  old  man  ain't  goin'  to  play  with  the  hands. 
Reckon  he  told  the  straight  yarn  that  day  we  went  into 
commission." 

"  Shut  up — Mr.  Hartley's  comin'."  A  minute  later  he 
continued:  "There's  the  kind  of  officer  I  like,  now.  Jest 
as  straight-for'd  as  a  taut  main  bow-line,  and  knowin'  well 
his  business  and  never  a  rough  word  to  a  shipped  man 
even  when  he's  mad  at  'em,  and  hard-workin'  and  rough 
when  needs  be,  but  ready  to  rig  out  fine  as  a  dandy  and 
speak  all  the  furrin  languages  to  the  furrin  kings  when 
they  comes  aboard,  or  to  dance  and  talk  sweet  to  the 
handsome  ladies.  He's  an  officer  all  over.  He  looks  more 
fat  and  quiet-like  now.  Reckon  he's  got  his  gal, 
Burke?" 

"  'Spec  so." 

"  Mr.  Hartley  reminds  me  right  smartly  o'  Thomas  Ap 
Catesby  R.  Jones  when  I  was  on  the  west  coast  of  Africky 
in  the  Somers." 

"  I  reckon  Mr.  Garnet  jest  as  good  an  officer  any  day, 
for  all  he's  so  shet-up  in  his  shell,  clam-fashion.  Anybody 
can  see  he  tells  Mr.  Hartley  what  to  do." 

"  Now  you're  talkin'  about  somethin'  you're  acquainted 
with." 

"  Me  !  What  ?  "  said  Thompson,  with  a  surprised  air. 

"Clams.  They  mostly  is  raised  on  the  farms  down 
'long  P'int  Judy." 

"  I  never  dug  a  clam  on  P'int  Judy  P'int." 

"Anyway,  you  know  more  about  them  than  you  do 
about  officers.     Anybody  can  see  how  Mr.  Garnet  keeps  his 


92  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

mouth  shet  and  his  years  open  tryin'  to  larn  by  watchin' 
Mr.  Hartley," 

"  They  mostly  hangs  together." 

For  awhile  the  three  were  still,  but  Johnson  soon  broke 
silence : 

"  Thompson,  you  axed  me  quite  brash  about  my  bein' 
licked,  why  didn't  you  ax  Burke  ?  " 

"  I  feel  like  Burke  can  tend  to  his  business  without 
none  o'  my  help." 

"  Come,  now  ! — you're  afraid  he'll  snap  you.  That's 
what  makes  you  feel  so  bashful-like — as  the  lady  said 
when  she  married  her  third  husband." 

"  Ax  him  yourself  if  you  want  to  be  interferin* — ^I've 
got  no  curiosity." 

"  I  haint'  neither.     Burke,  was  you  ever  licked  ?  " 

"  Tend  to  your  own  business,  Ap  Jones." 

Ap  began  a  series  of  mingled  complaints  and  apologies, 
to  which  Burke  paid  no  attention  whatever.  He  soon 
broke  off  suddenly,  by  saying,  that  he  bet  Mr.  Hartley 
was  a  good  'un  to  fight.  He  has  fit  his  doo-il  many  a 
time." 

"  I  hear  the  ward-room  officers  talkin'  over  their  pipes 
by  the  port  round-house  the  other  day  when  I  went  to  set 
my  scouse-pan  in  the  galley,  and  they  was  sayin'  Mr. 
Hartley  wouldn't  be  axed  to  fight  no  more  because  he 
always  shot  his  pistol  in  the  air." 

"  In  the  air  !     He  couldn't  hit  anybody  that  way." 

"  No  more  he  wanted  to." 

"  What  made  him  fight  doo-ils  then,  if  he  wasn't  goin' 
to  shoot  back  ?  " 

"  'Spect  he  was  afraid  they'd  think  he  was  afraid  if  he 
didn't ;  don't  you  reckon,  Burke  ?  " 

"'Spec  so." 

"Well,"  said  Johnson,  "I  be  dam  if  I  let  any  dam  fool 
stand  up  and  shoot  at  me,  and  not  try  my  best  to  hit  him. 
'Taint  fair.  I  didn't  think  Mr.  Hartley  would  'a  done 
that  way." 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAV^.  93 

"  Every  body  to  his  taste,  as  the  old  'oman  said  when 
she  kissed  her  cow." 

*'  I  recollect  a  doo-il  they  had  in  the  Ohio  liner-battle- 
ship when  I  was  in  her  and  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones 
was  first  luff.     I  was  down  in  the  gun-room." 

**  The  gun-room!  " 

"  Yes,  percizely  there.  One  mornin'  I  was  lashin'  up  a 
midshipman's  hammock — " 

"  Shet  up,  Ap.  Whoever  heard  of  midshipmen  in  the 
gun-room  ?  " 

"  The  ship  wasn't  in  commission,  I  tell  ye,  and  all  hands 
fleeted  up.  She  was  jest  a  receivin'  ship.  The  quarter- 
masters had  the  steerage  and  the  mids  the  gun-room — there 
warn't  no  flag-officer  in  her  at  all.  I  was  a-lashin'  up  the 
hammock  and  listenin'  to  two  of  'em  quarrellin' — they  was 
a  mate  and  a  midshipman.  The  mate  had  been  devillin* 
the  middy  a  long  time,  shakin'  his  clews  and  wakin'  him 
up  at  five  bells  after  he'd  kep'  the  mid-watch,  or  easin' 
down  his  lanyards  till  he  was  all  doubled  up  in  a  bight  and 
most  uncomfortable,  or  lowerin'  his  head  clean  down  to  the 
deck  and  leavin'  him  to  wake  up  when  convenient — which 
it  most  generally  was  in  a  short  time — and  the  middy  had 
been  gettin'  madder  and  madder.  He  wouldn't  pitch  into 
the  mate  with  his  fists,  'cause  the  mate  was  a  man  grown, 
and  he  know'd  he  get  no  joy  out  o'  that,  but  this  mornin' 
when  he  wakes  up  and  finds  the  mate  shakin'  his  clews,  he 
jumps  out  in  his  shirt  tail  as  bold  as  brass  and  walks  up  to 
him.  *  This  has  got  to  be  stopped,  sir,'  says  he.  *  Well, 
stop  it,'  says  Mr.  Mate.  *  I'm  not  strong  enough  to  give 
you  the  dog's  thrashin'  you  deserve.  '  I  challenge  you  to 
fight  me  with  some  other  weapons — swords,  pistols,  knives — 
anything  you  please.'  I  see  the  other  mids  crowdin'  round 
and  lookin'  sort  o'  queer  like,  and  I  jest  went  on  lashin' 
the  hammock  as  slow  as  I  know'd  how,  for  I  know'd  there 
was  something  in  the  wind.  The  mate,  he  was  sort  o'  took 
aback  and  holds  off  at  that,  which  makes  the  mid  all  the 
more   anxious   and   pushin'.     x\t   last   the  mate,  says   he, 


94:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

*  Well,  then,  if  you  will,  you  young  fool,  I  name  pistols,  and 
Mr.  Marshall  is  my  second  if  he'll  act  for  me.  We'll  fight 
it  out  right  now — across  a  handkerchief  if  you  like.'  That 
was  a  little  too  sudden  for  the  middy,  and  he  turned  white 
as  a  scrubbed  hammock,  but  he  was  too  plucky  to  back 
out,  so  he  asks  another  middy  to  be  his  second,  and  goes 
off  and  writes  on  a  piece  o'  paper  and  folds  it  up  and  hands 
it  to  his  second.  The  mate  he  never  wrote  a  word.  Well, 
they  put  'em  up  on  the  settees,  a  matter  o'  four  fathom 
apart,  and  told  'em  they  was  to  wait  for  the  word  and  not 
to  shoot  till  a  white  hankercher  was  dropped.  The  middy 
was  awful  white,  but  he  was  jest  as  plucky  as  the  devil.  I 
.tell  you,  it  was  still  in  that  gun-room  then !  Says  he  to 
the  mate,  '  I'm  in  earnest  about  this  here,  I'll  shoot  you  if 
I  can,'  and  the  mate  he  jest  laughed  at  him.  When  the 
hankercher  dropped  neither  of  'em  shot.  The  middy  had 
only  half-cocked  his  pistol,  and  couldn't  pull  it  off,  and  the 
mate  was  a-waitin'  on  him,  and  coverin'  him  with  his  pistol, 
kind  o'  shakin*  the  pistol  at  him,  and  a-cussin'  him.  First 
I  know'd,  hang  !  the  mate's  pistol  went  off,  and  sure  enough 
the  middy  dropped.  I  see  a  red  place  on  the  front  of  his 
shirt,   and  him    a-layin'    on  the  deck.     He   hollered   out, 

*  Shoot  again  !  and  put  me  out  o'  my  misery.'  *  My  God  ! ' 
says  the  mate,  *  is  he  hurt  ? '  They  all  run  up  to  the  middy 
and  tore  open  his  shirt,  and  there  was  a  bloody  raw  spot 
about  as  big  as  a  half-a-doUar  on  his  right  breast.  The 
little  Pill  came  in  in  a  minute,  and  felt  of  him  and  twigged 
the  joke,  and  says  he  '  The  ball  has  lodged  in  your  liver. 
I  feel  the  bulge  of  it.  You're  a  dead  man.'  You  see  it 
was  soft  tommy  bullets  the  pistols  was  loaded  with." 

"Well,  I'll  be !" 

"  'Spec  you  will,  Thompson.  And,  sir,  that  middy 
never  see  the  joke  they  played  on  him  till  four  hours  after- 
ward. He  couldn't  understand  what  made  'em  laugh  at 
him  so.  And  he  sat  down  and  eat  a  hearty  breakfast  the 
same  time  he  thought  he  was  dyin'." 

Johnson    commenced    another   yarn,  but   seven    bells 


A   STOKY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  95 

sonnded,  the  sweepers  were  piped,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  put  away  their  work.  Nobody  had  ever  reached 
the  end  of  Johnson's  stories,  or  was  able  in  them  to  sepa- 
rate truth  from  fiction. 

Still  the  Flying  Fish  sped  southward.  Night  and 
day  she  glided  smoothly  onward,  till  at  last,  one  afternoon 
her  dry  anchor  dropped  off  Key  West. 

The  captain  went  ashore  in  the  gig  immediately,  leaving 
orders  for  all  hands  to  remain  on  board. 

The  place  wore  a  deserted  appearance.  Not  a  vessel 
of  war  was  in  the  harbor,  though  they  had  expected  to  find 
several  of  the  squadron.  While  the  officers  were  wonder- 
ing what  could  be  the  reason  for  their  being  thus  alone,  the 
captain  returned.  The  gig  was  at  once  hoisted  by  his 
order,  and  in  a  minute  more,  everybody  was  electrified  to 
hear  the  boatswain  pipe,  "  All  hands  up  anchor  !  " 

The  captain  sent  for  Briggs,  and  told  him  to  take  the 
deck  and  get  the  ship  under  way.  He  wanted  Briggs  to 
learn  a  naval  officer's  duty — to  be  ready  for  any  emergency 
— and  he  thought  rightly  that  Briggs  would  try  harder  to 
prepare  for  emergencies  if  the  possibility  of  their  occurring 
were  thus  impressed  upon  his  mind.  Briggs  had  kept  a 
deck  watch  with  tolerable  credit,  but  looking  upon  getting 
the  anchor  as  a  first  lieutenant's  duty  he  had  not  expected 
to  be  called  upon  for  years,  and  had  not  given  the  duty 
close  attention.  He  was  a  good  deal  confused,  but  the 
captain  did  not  mean  to  let  him  make  a  failure  before  the 
ship's  company.  He  therefore  stood  at  the  young  officer's 
elbow,  and  made  necessary  suggestions.  All  went  well  till 
just  before  the  anchor  was  reported  aweigh.  Briggs  had 
forgotten  to  have  the  jib  cleared  away,  and  when  the  cap- 
tain suggested  the  advisability  of  so  doing,  was  so  much 
confused  that  he  misunderstood. 

"  Clear  away  the  flying-jib  !  "  he  bawled. 

The  forecastle-men  stared  at  him  a  moment  in  surprise, 
and  then  darted  out  on  the  head  booms,  obedient. 

"  I  said  the  jib,  Mr.  Briggs,"  remarked  Captain  Merrrit ; 


96  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

but   Briggs   was  too  much   agitated  to  be  able  to   hear. 
*'*'-Man  the  flying-jib  halliards!  "  he  ordered. 

"The  Jib,  Mr.  Briggs,"  said  the  captain  in  a  louder 
voice,  "and — " 

"  Anchored  aweigh,  sir"  sung  out  the  officer  of  the 
forecastle. 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  replied  the  infatuated  Briggs, 
"  Clear  away  the  flying-jib  down-haul!  " 

"  DorCt  set  that  sail,  sir  !  " 

"  Hoist  away  !  "  and  in  spite  of  all,  up  went  the  &ying-jib 
merrily,  and  under  that  useful  sail  the  Fish  was  cast,  while 
the  men  grinned,  and  the  officers  smiled,  and  the  captain 
looked  very  blank.  Poor  Briggs  !  he  lived  to  be  a  respected 
and  useful  officer,  but  never  to  the  day  of  his  death  could 
he  be  reminded  of  the  time  he  cast  with  the  flying-jib  with- 
out feeling  hot  and  uncomfortable. 

They  sailed  out  of  the  harbor  so  lately  entered,  every- 
body wondering  why  they  left  and  where  they  were  going. 
However,  Captain  Merritt  made  it  known  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, for  he  was  above  annoying  his  officers  with  useless 
petty  mysteries. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  all  disappointed  in  not  getting  your 
washing  done  and  fresh  provisions  in,  Mr.  McKizick  !  " 

They  were  standing  aft  by  the  cabin  skylight  after 
the  hands  were  piped  down. 

"  Well,  yes,  somewhat ;  though  it's  a  small  matter," 
replied  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  I  was  sorry,"  said  the  captain,  "  to  have  to  weigh 
immediately,  but  I  found  orders  awaiting  us  on  shore 
at  the  consulate  to  make  no  stoppage  whatever.  Here 
are  the  orders."     He  opened  a  big  official  document. 

"First,  a  description  of  a  very  fast  topsail  schooner 
called  La  Hembrilla,  built  in  New  York  last- fall  and  win- 
ter, and  now  cruising  in  these  waters.  She  has  already 
done  an  immense  amount  of  damage — she  is  commanded 
by  that  scoundrel  Hackett,  who  has  so  often  dodged  us. 
There  seems  to  be  no  catching  him,  but  now  we're  to  have 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  97 

a  try.  We  are  to  make  it  our  especial  business  to  get  in- 
formation of  this  craft,  follow  her  up,  and  capture  or  de- 
stroy her.  The  flag-officer  has  heard  that  she  runs  around 
the  south  coast,  and  hides  in  or  near  the  Cobre." 

"  There's  plenty  of  places  to  hide  in,  there,  sir,"  said 
McKizick,  "  I'm  afraid  it'll  be  like  looking  for  a  needle  in 
a  hay-stack." 

"  We  have  the  best  part  of  three  years  in  which  to  pull 
the  hay  to  pieces,  and  split  the  straws  open.  I  only  hope 
we  may  succeed  early,  for  it  will  be  very  hard  on  all  hands, 
and  I  have  no  liking  for  a  worn-out  ship's  company.  You 
must  remind  the  officers  of  this,  Mr.  McKizick,  and  put 
them  on  their  mettle  to  endure  a  good  deal.  Make  them 
feel  that  we  are  going  to  improve  the  knowledge  of  the 
coast,  and  help  the  charts,  even  if  we  don't  catch  the 
schooner." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir;  I'll  'tend  to  it.  You'll  need  no  spur  for 
Mr.  Garnet  and  Mr.  Hartley,  sir,  for  they  are  as  faithful  as — '* 

"As  faithful  as  my  first  lieutenant,  and  that's  paying 
them  a  high  compliment.  But  I  thought  Mr.  Hartley  was 
in  love." 

"  So  he  was,  but  he  appears  to  have  shaken  it  off 
by  this  time." 

"  Just  as  I  hoped.  He  won't  be  discontented  and  mop- 
ing over  his  duty,  as  I  feared." 

"  Where  are  we  going  now,  captain  ?  " 

"  Across  to  Matanzas,  and  along  down  the  coast  stopping 
at  every  port  to  make  inquiry.  Then  to  Cape  Haytien  and 
around  Hayti  by  the  south,  running  up  to  Samana,  and 
stopping  at  discretion.  Then  along  the  south  side  of 
Porto  Rico  in  the  same  way,  and  over  to  Santa  Cruz.  We 
are  to  provision  and  take  in  water  there — the  commodore 
gives  us  ten  days  for  that — and  then  to  run  down  the 
south  coast  and  cruise  mostly  off  the  Cobre.  Of  course,  it 
we  get  on  a  hot  scent  we  shall  not  stop  to  provision 
and  water  ship." 

"  Are  we  to  have  company?  " 
6 


98  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"No,  Commodore  Porter  says  he  can't  spare  anothei 
vessel,  as  much  as  he  would  like  to,  and  he  expects  us 
to  do  double  duty.  By  the  way,  Mr.  McKizick,  the  men 
always  feel  better  when  they  know  of  what  is  coming. 
My  steward  is  in  the  pantry  now ;  suppose  we  go  down 
and  talk  it  over  while  we  look  at  the  charts.  Mind,  that 
La  Hembrilla  ought  to  carry  at  least  a  ton  of  doubloons." 
The  captain's  gray  eye  twinkled  as  he  started  down  the 
ladder  thinking  of  how  the  steward  would  serve  as  an 
unconscious  messenger  to  carry  the  next  wonderful  galley 
news. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  system  of  piracy  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writ- 
ing was  worthy  of  having  applied  to  it  the  word  st/s- 
tern.  Warned,  by  the  vigilance  and  activity  displayed  by 
the  American  cruisers,  of  the  necessity  of  equal  watchful- 
ness and  address  in  making  their  depredations,  though 
not  yet  sufficiently  punished  to  make  them  see  the  lack 
of  profit  in  their  adventures,  the  pirates  had  now  made 
themselves  more  dreaded  than  they  had  ever  been  before. 
Merchant  vessels  were  seized  in  places  deemed  safe,  when 
least  dreaming  of  danger  :  perhaps  at  their  anchorage 
in  some  of  the  less  frequented  ports :  perhaps  by  a  boat 
expedition  when  becalmed  off  the  shore  in  broad  daylight: 
perhaps  by  a  piratical  vessel  immediately  after  leaving  the 
protection  of  a  man-of-war,  and  almost  before  her  sails 
were  below  the  horizon. 

Nowhere  were  the  pirates  more  troublesome  than  on 
the  coast  of  Cuba,  more  especially  the  north  coast,  the 
southern  passage  being  less  frequented  by  the  rich  mer- 
chant-men the  buccaneers  loved  to  meet.  Using  small 
craft  of  light  draft  and  good  speed,  the  enemies  of  com- 
merce could  lie  in  wait  for  their  prey,  hidden  them- 
eelves  from  passing  ships,  but  watching  eagerly  for  a  suita- 


A    STOliY    OF   THE    AMKKICAN    NAVY.  9^ 

ble  vessel  to  attack.  When  the  piedcstined  one  came, 
it  was  quick  work  to  slip  out  to  sea,  slay,  capture,  plunder, 
make  prisoners,  destroy  the  useless  prize  by  fire,  and  again 
dodge  back  into  hiding.  In  case  of  pursuit  by  a  man-of- 
war  their  more  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  danger- 
ous coast,  joined  to  the  light  draft  of  their  craft  and 
much  practice  in_  escaping,  gave  the  pirates  great  ad- 
vantages. They  would  boldly  thread  their  way  among 
shoals  and  reefs  where  the  man-of-war  durst  not  follow  ; 
and  soon  the  hospitable  shore  would  open  to  receive  and 
protect  its  children. 

The  pirates  hunted  in  bands  of  from  ten  to  one  hundred 
in  number,  each  gang  having  its  recognized  commander, 
and  confining  its  operations  to  a  particular  strip  of  the 
coast.  That  is  to  say,  its  homeward  operations  ;  on  a 
cruise  the  whole  sea  was  free  to  all.  The  lesser  bands  some 
times  combined  their  forces  for  attacking  a  stronger  ves- 
sel than  common,  but  with  the  larger  parties  combination 
was  unnecessary.  Yet  all  had  a  fellow  feeling,  and  stood 
ready  to  do  one  another  a  good  turn.  There  was  among 
them  a  constant  communication  and  interchange  of  cour- 
tesies. Did  a  6ne  ship  escape  the  gang  which  first  tried  to 
seize  her,. the  word  was  passed  along  the  shore  immedi- 
ately, and,  unless  she  had  a  strong  fair  wind,  for  hundreds 
of  miles  she  would  be  eagerly  looked  for  by  other  parties, 
each  of  which  stood  ready  to  take  advantage  of  any  oppor- 
tunity which  fortune  might  render.  And  so  she  ran  a 
gauntlet,  in  which  the  penalty  of  slowness,  carelessness, 
lack  of  courage,  over-confidence,  or  any  of  the  ordinary 
accidents  of  the  sea,  might  be  destruction. 

The  methods  of  conveying  intelligence  were  various, 
and  suited  to  difierent  cases.  Sometimes  a  boat  was  sent 
at  night,  sometimes  a  man  rode  over  with  the  news,  and,  on 
urgent  occasions,  a  bonfire  on  a  hill  told  the  story  quickly. 
Certain  it  was  that  in  one  way  or  another  information 
seemed  to  pass  along  the  line  of  the  north  coast  as  electri- 
city flashes  along  the  wire. 


100  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

There  was,  also,  correspondence  between  the  head- 
quarters of  the  gangs  and  the  nearest  towns,  in  which  they 
usually  had  an  agent.  From  these  towns  provisions  and 
news  of  the  rest  of  the  world  were  received,  and  to  them 
goods  were  taken  for  disposal.  Certain  classes  of  people 
in  the  towns  were  as  glad  to  hear  of  a  good  capture  as  the 
planters  were  to  know  that  another  load  of  slaves  had 
been  landed. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  pirates  and  the  slavers 
alike  received  support  and  sympathy  from  the  Spanish  res- 
idents, and  it  is  equally  well  known  that  Spanish  officials 
systematically  connived  at  both- wicked  pursuits.  With 
such  great  natural  advantages  in  front,  and  with  friends 
and  a  market  at  their  backs,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
gentlemen  of  the  coast  long  did  well. 

When  a  merchantman  was  taken,  the  customary  course 
of  the  captors  (in  case  she  was  a  large  one)  was  to  collect 
every  portable  thing  of  value  which  she  contained,  carry 
this  property  on  shore  with  the  prisoners,  and  burn  the 
ship.  Cruelty  was  not  frequent  after  the  fight,  though  it 
was  sometimes  resorted  to  in  order  to  induce  revelation  of 
the  place  in  which  valuables  had  been  secreted.  After 
landing  the  passengers  and  officers,  they  were  directed  to 
send  for  ransom.  The  crew  were  usually  turned  adrift  in 
an  open  boat  to  look  out  for  themselves.  The  prisoners 
were  guarded  until  news  of  the  ransom  was  obtained  ;  in  a 
few  cases  actually  being  confined  in  a  town  jail,  officially 
imprisoned  on  some  trumped-up  charge  sufficient  to  give 
the  alcalde  a  plausible  excuse.  He,  of  course,  got  a  share 
of  the  ransom  in  payment  for  his  services. 

In  case  no  ransom  could  be  had,  the  prisoner  would 
sometimes  be  shot,  but  was  usually  conducted  blindfolded 
a  distance  of  some  miles  into  the  country,  and  turned  loose 
to  get  to  a  seaport  as  best  he  could.  When  a  handsome 
amount  of  money  was  received,  the  pirates  always  dis- 
missed their  guest  with  vast  politeness,  a  guide  on  the  road, 


A  STORY  OF  Tiiii  AM,fi;RtcAlN'''irjVYi';;  ]\  >  I  /',101 

a  pass  to  protect  him  from  other  gangs,  and  a  Vaya  Y. 
con  Dios. 

The  goods  captured  were  divided  among  the  men  in 
shares  whose  size  had  been  fixed  by  long  usage :  and  the 
new  owners  of  the  merchandise  sold  it  as  opportunity 
offered  to  their  middlemen  in  the  towns,  at  very  low  prices. 
Captain  liackett's  custom  had  always  been  to  buy  the 
goods  himself  from  his  men.  He  gave  better  prices  than 
the  agents,  which  was  one  reason  for  his  having,  up  to  the 
time  of  this  account,  possessed  unusual  popularity  and 
influence  among  his  crews.  He  shipped  his  honest  pur- 
chases to  the  United  States  in  regular  form,  entered  them 
properly,  paid  the  duties  like  a  good  citizen,  and  made 
enormous  profits.  But  he  had  capital  and  business  enter- 
prise, which  his  brother  chiefs  had  not.  Their  gains  were 
almost  invariably  squandered  in  dissipation  as  low  as  was 
that  of  the  men  they  commanded. 

Captured  treasure  was  an  exception.  Nearly  all  the 
gangs,  impelled  by  a  very  strange  though  common  instinct,, 
buried  it  as  fast  as  obtained,  in  one  place,  known  to  the 
men  of  the  band  only,  and  guarded  by  them  with  an  afi\  c- 
tionate  and  fearful  secrecy.  Each  man  knew  the  danger 
of  his  comrade's  vengeance,  and  each  looked  forward  to  a 
day  when  the  division  of  the  treasure  would  enable  him  to 
live  in  ease  and  safety.  With  such  a  mine  of  wealth 
accumulating  there  was  the  less  motive  to  be  saving  of 
daily  gains.  In  point  of  fact,  few  of  the  hoards  were  ever 
equitably  divided  among  those  who  had  laid  them  up ;  for 
death  fast  lessened  the  number  of  heirs,  and  the  treachery 
of  later  years  robbed  the  robbers  of  the  proceeds  of  their 
robberies, 

Hackett  was  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  freeboot- 
ing  commanders.  He  carried  correct  business  ideas  into 
the  work,  and  being  a  keen,  sharp  man,  with  a  judgment  and 
knowledge  of  seamanship  on  which  his  men  relied,  he  pros- 
pered well.  It  was  he  who  developed  the  ransom  system. 
He  found  it  only  occasionally  resorted  to,  and  then  but  for 


7    «    e  *       «    •    *    .ft  t/ 

'  e  «      *  J    •     •    «    '^    , 


lOa't  *  *,/:  "!?;*'/'•'  '   eoyIe  afloat. 

persons  of  consequence  :  he  made  it  a  regular,  profitable 
part  of  his  business,  and  his  success  led  to  its  adoption  by 
nearly  all  the  Cuban  bands.  Now  that  the  thing  was  so 
frequently  practised,  the  old  difficulties  and  delays  had 
been  greatly  lessened.  Routes  for  intelligence  and  prison- 
ers had  become  fixed,  official  acquaintance  made,  fees 
established ;  and  the  whole  thing  was  dropping  into  routine. 
The  outrages  and  cruelties  of  the  past  were  now  more 
rare.  Blood  was  not  often  shed,  except  in  the  attack 
and  capture.  Though  occasionally  the  tiger  nature 
of  these  low,  abandoned  men  would  assert  itself,  still 
they  had  generally  come  to  regard  themselves  as  ene- 
mies of  property  rather  than  of  life.  Such  was  the  piracy 
in  Cuba  at  this  period. 


CHAPTER  X. 


"  Where,  over  fig-tree  and  orange,  in  tier  upon  tier  still  repeated. 
Garden  on  garden  upreared,  balconies  step  to  the  sky, 
Ah,  that  I  were— far  away  from  the  crowds  and  the  streets  of  the  city, 
Under  the  vine  trellis  laid,  O  my  beloved,  with  thee." 

IT  is  about  half-past  eight  in  the  morning  of  a  clear  deli- 
cious day,  warm  with  the  warmth  of  spring  in  the  tropics. 
Hartley  and  Garnet  sit  by  the  open  bridle-port  of  the 
Flying  Fish,  smoking  the  after  breakfast  cigar,  and  look- 
ing out  at  the  scene  before  them.  The  ship  is  lying  to  her 
anchor  in  Santa  Cruz  harbor,  so  still  that  to  our  two  friends, 
after  feeling  the  send  and  swing  of  the  sea  so  long,  she 
seems  to  be  motionless. 

The  hands  have  just  been  piped  down  from  bringing 
ship  to  anchor,  and  it  is  the  meal-hour.  The  men  are  all 
on  deck,  puffing  reeking  navy  tobacco  in  clay  pipes,  and 
discussing  the  work  to  be  done,  and  the  chance  of  liberty 
on  shore.  The  other  ward-room  officers  sit  somewhat  abaft 
our  two  friends,  and  are  occupied  similarly  to  the  crew, 
except  that  they  smoke  good  Havanas,  and  speak  of  shore 
as  a  certainty. 


A   STOBT   OF  THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  103 

"  Will  the  captain  stay  his  ten  days  out  ?  " 

"Don't  see  how  he  can  get  in  provisions  and  water,  and 
give  each  watch  twenty-four  hours  in  less  time." 

"  That's  so — and  we  need  a  rest  after  such  a  round  as 
weVe  had." 

"  I  don't  suppose  a  man-of-war  ever  did  move  more 
rapidly. 

"  Ten  ports  in  two  weeks." 

"  Hardly  fair  to  say  ten,  for  at  three  places  we  only 
hove  to  and  sent  the  boats  in,  and  at  two  we  anchored 
outside." 

"  Going  ashore  to-day  ?  " 

"  Yes — I  suppose  so.  If  I'm  not  back  by  four,  keep  my 
first  dog-watch,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Yes.  What  makes  you  speak  in  that  careless  way 
about  going  ?     I  thought  you  were  all  anxiety  to  get  here." 

"  I  hardly  know  why.  Will.  I'm  surprised  to  feel  so 
listless  about  it.  I  suppose  I've  been  anxious  so  long,  I'm 
no  longer  able  to  take  any  interest.  I'm  more  than  half 
miserable  to-day. 

"  Maybe  Miss  Mary  isn't  here." 

**  She's  here,  I  know." 

"How?" 

"I  don't  know  how  I  know  it,  but  I  feel  sure  she's 
somewhere  ashore  yonder." 

"  That's  a  queer  sort  of  knowledge.  I've  heard  of  it, 
but  I  can't  say  I  ever  had  any  myself." 

"  I  know  she  is  here." 

"  Well,  why  should  you  be  miserable  then  ?  It's  just 
what  you've  been  wanting.  Here  you  are  head  over 
heels  in  love,  and  longing  to  be  taken.  And  there's 
the  very  charming  young  lady  only  waiting  for  the  chance 
to  take  you,  if  I'm  any  judge.  You've  no  right  to  be 
miserable,  Hal." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  about  the  acceptance  as  you  are.  It's 
true  she  showed  some  preference  for  me  in  New  York,  but 
she  is  not  the  kind  of  a  girl  to  fall  into  unchangeable  love 


104:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

in  SO  short  a  time.  I'm  afraid  she  has  half  forgotten  me. 
Her  father  didn't  regard  me  with  any  too  much  favor,  I 
know  by  his  letter. 

"  No  fear  she's  forgotten  you,  my  dear  fellow.  Your 
}30sition  is  a  good  otie,  you  are  rich,  and  a  good-look- 
ing boy,  and  you  were  very  plain-spoken  in  your  actions 
toward  Miss  Mary,  so  that  she  certainly  knows  your  chief 
merit  of  all,  which  is  loving  herself.  Hold  your  head  up, 
Hal,  and  go  at  it  like  '* — he  was  about  to  say  "  Like  you  did 
at  Gibraltar  "  but  mercifully  changed  it  to  "  like  a  man." 

"She  isn't  a  girl  to  be  influenced  by  money  and  navy 
buttons.     You  are  very  wrong  if  you  think  that  of  her." 

"Pshaw!  all  of  them  are,  more  or  less.  It's  only 
natural." 

"  I  mean  to  do  the  best  I  can,  but  shall  make  no  offer 
without  some  plain  encouragement.  I  don't  care  to  be 
anybody's  fool  for  nothing." 

"  Right  you  are." 

"  But  suppose  I  see  clearly  there's  no  use  in  speaking 
to  her.  What  a  prospect  for  the  future  !  That's  what  makes 
me  wretched." 

"  What  ?  " 

"  It  would  take  all  the  motive  out  of  my  life." 

"  Oh,  no.  Honor — duty — usefulness.  Won't  you  always 
acknowledge  them  ?  " 

"Yes,  old  boy,  and  friendship,  too.  Forgive  me  for 
forgetting  that.  With  my  old-time  friend  aboard,  I'll  be 
better  off  jilted  than  some  are  married." 

"You're  right,  though  I  say  it  that  shouldn't." 

"  Still,  it  will  be  pretty  rough,  Will." 

"  You  haven't  asked  her  yet.  You  talk  as  if  it  were  a 
settled  misery." 

Hartley  had  nothing  to  say.  Garnet  went  on  ;  "  Hal, 
I  wish  you  could  be  more  equable  in  your  mind.  You  are 
always  on  heaven's  highest  hill,  or  in  hell's  hottest  hole. 
Three  days  ago  you  were  brimming  over  with  good  spirits, 
BO  much  so  that  everybody  in  the  ship  noticed  it — just  be- 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  105 

cause  you  were  approaching  the  young  woman :  and  here 
you  are  to-day  as  doleful  as  the  devil — because,  I  suppose, 
you've  got  as  near  to  her  as  the  ship  can  carry  you,  and 
you've  only  to  take  a  boat  to  get  nearer,  and  only  to  walk 
a  bit  to  get  nearer  still,  and  only  to  knock  at  the  door  to 
get  in,  and  only  to  ask  Miss  Mary,  to  have  her  say,  "  Yes, 
and  thank  you,  too."  "  What  did  that  boy  say  doctor  ?  " 
he  asked,  raising  his  voice. 

Dr.  Bobus,  who  was  sitting  with  the  party  further  aft, 
replied  that  he  came  to  report  that  a  boat  would  leave  the 
ship,  for  ward-room  officers,  at  nine-thirty. 

"  There,  Hal,  there's  your  boat,  you  see.  *  Take  it  easy, 
me  boy,'  as  the  Irishman  said  to  the  fellow  that  swallowed 
the  live  crawfish."  So  saying,  Garnet  resumed  his  half- 
extinguished  cigar,  and  puffed  vigorously  to  relight  it. 

They  gazed  awhile  in  silence  out  of  the  port  at  the 
lovely  picture  it  enframed  of  the  harbor's  mouth — the  ship 
rode  to  a  light  sea-breeze,  and  Garnet  enjoyed  the  fresh 
bright  view.  To  the  left  a  point  ran  out,  helping  to  form 
the  harbor.  Its  extremity  rose  in  a  little  hill,  connected 
with  the  island  by  a  low  neck  of  land.  The  hill  was 
crowned  by  a  clump  of  fine  palm  trees,  in  whose  green 
centre  there  stood  a  tall,  snow-white  tower — a  light- 
house. Bricks  and  whitewash  seldom  get  together  to  pro- 
duce a  prettier  effect  than  this  was. 

"  See  the  light,  Hal  ?  " 

**  Yes." 

"  Pretty  isn't  it  ?  " 

**  Yes,  very." 

"  What  does  it  make  you  think  of?  " 

«  Her." 

"Why?" 

"  That  shiny  white  is  the  emblem  of  purity.'* 

"And  your  verdancy  and  freshness  bring  that  out  just 
as  the  green  trees  set  off  the  light-house.     Excuse  me." 

*'  I  don't  mind  your  nonsense.  Then  she  stands  alone 
5* 


106  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

and  without  an  equal  to  my  mind,  as  the  white  tower  does 
yonder  to  my  eyes. 

"  Now  I've  got  your  interpretation,  let  me  give  you  mine. 

«  Do." 

"  The  light-house  is  a  guide  to  port,  and  a  welcome  to 
the  weary  sailor — that's  you.  White  is  the  color  of  peace 
as  well  as  of  purity.  So  we  may  say  that  the  light-house 
is  Miss  Mary  welcoming  you  ashore  to  peace  and  rest, 
just  such  as  you  need.  The  trees  are  palms,  and  Pve 
always  heard  them  called  the  symbol  of  victory.  So  all 
you've  got  to  do  is  to  go  ashore,  surround  her,  and  take 
her  prisoner,  palm-fashion.  I'm  only  afraid  you'll  be  con- 
tent to  stop  and  grow  up  around  her,  you  and  your  picka- 
ninny palm  trees,  like  them  you  see." 

"  That's  a  good  deal  mixed,  but  with  a  little  practice  you 
could  set  up  for  a  prose  poet.  I'm  much  obliged  to  you 
though." 

He  smiled  cheerfully  at  last,  threw  his  cigar  stump  out 
of  the  port  through  the  middle  of  the  picture,  and  got  up 
saying  he  must  go  below  and  get  ready  for  the  boat. 

He  went  down  to  his  dark  little  den  of  a  state-room  and 
made  a  careful  toilet,  putting  on  a  civilian  suit.  While 
busy  at  that,  a  messenger  came  for  Dularge  from  the  cap- 
tain. Dularge  went  on  deck  and  Hartley  heard  the  captain 
talking  to  him,  through  the  open  hatch. 

"  Mr.  Dularge,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  am  not  satisfied 
with  our  chronometer  rate.  You  have  noticed  that  it  is 
gaining,  of  course." 

"  I — I  believe,"  replied  Dularge  hesitating,  "  I  believe  I 
did,  at  Key  West,  sir." 

"  At  Key  West !  "  The  captain's  voice  was  surprised. 
**  I  don't  see  how  you  told  anything  about  it  at  Key  West. 
Anyhow  I  want  a  reliable  rating,  and  I  desire  you  to 
attend  it  while  we  are  here." 

Dularge  answered,  "Aye,  aye,  sir,"  in  rather  a  dubious 
tone,  and   came   below.     When  Hartley  started   on   deck 


A  STOKY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.         107 

Dularge  was  deep  in  a  work  on  navigation,  and  was  wear- 
ing a  troubled  face. 

Before  Hartley  left  his  room  Garnet  came  in  and 
advised  him  to  get  through  to-day  somehow,  assuring  him 
he  would  be  better  off  in  any  event,  and  Hartley  half-prom- 
ised. When  the  boat  reached  the  shore,  he  at  once  sep- 
arated from  the  officers  who  had  come,  and  made  inquiries 
for  the  United  States  consulate. 

He  took  his  way  thither  and  was  soon  in  the  presence 
of  the  august  citizen  who  represented  the  great  republic  at 
Santa  Cruz.  The  consul  was  a  little  German  Jew,  who 
epoke  such  bad  English  that  it  was  hard  to  understand 
him.  Hartley  made  out,  however,  that  the  Dewhursts  had 
been  several  weeks  on  the  island,  that  they  had  lived  the 
first  week  at  the  hotel,  and  that  they  had  hired  a  house 
somewhere  in  town — the  consul  did  not  know  where. 
Consul  did  not  know  where  their  address  could  be  obtained, 
imless  Messrs.  Blank  &  Co.  could  give  it — Mr.  Dewhurst 
had  business  connections  with  that  firm — but  now  he 
remembered  hearing  the  resident  partner  was  going  over 
to  St.  Thomas  to-day — maybe  was  already  gone.  Hartley 
got  the  merchant's  address  and  hurried  away.  At  the  store 
the  clerks  could  give  him  no  information  about  the  Dew- 
hursts. The  head  of  the  house  was  going  over  to  St. 
Thomas  to-day  and  had  gone  home  to  get  ready.  He 
might  have  left  by  this  time. 

Hartley  rushed  to  the  merchant's  house,  but  only  to  find 
him  gone,  as  he  had  feared.  None  of  the  family  could  tell 
him  where  the  Dewhursts  lived,  though  they  had  all 
seen  them  out  riding.  Thrown  on  his  own  resources  in 
this  manner.  Hartley  went  to  the  market  and  inquired 
there,  thinking  that  information  might  have  been  left 
by  the  servants.  It  probably  had,  but  that  did  him  no 
good,  for  the  mixed  lingo  of  the  market  darkeys  was 
wholly  unintelligible.  He  walked  back  almost  in  despair 
to  the  store,  found  out  where  horses  were  to  be  hired, 
went  and  got  one,  and   started   on   a  systematic   search 


108  LOVET  AFLOAT. 

for  his  darling — a  modern  Quixote  in  quest  of  Dulcinea 
of  New  York.  The  ludicrousness  of  the  situation  never 
struck  him,  for  he  was  too  much  worried,  too  much  in 
love  and  earnest  to  think  of  anything  but  his  ill-success 
and  of  Mary.  So  he  rode  on  manfully  and  knightly 
through  the  streets,  every  now  and  then  dismounting  from 
his  steed  to  ask  questions,  and  fortunately  avoiding  an  en- 
counter with  any  of  his  brother  officers. 

After  a  two  hours*  hunt  he  found  himself  hot,  dusty, 
and  tired.  His  horse  had  walked  of  his  own  will  some 
little  distance  out  of  the  town ;  and  Hartley,  feeling  vastly 
disgusted,  stopped  him,  intending  to  ride  back  to  the 
stable  and  give  it  up  for  that  time.  About  to  turn  the 
horse's  head  and  put  his  resolve  into  execution,  he  noticed 
at  a  little  distance  before  him,  bordering  the  road,  several 
little  cottage  houses  surrounded  by  trees  and  gardens. 
He  pushed  on  again,  thinking  that  one  more  attempt  would 
do  no  hurt,  and  would  take  but  little  time. 

So  he  rode  on,  looking  at  the  houses  on  either  side  and 
hoping  to  see  some  person  of  whom  he  could  make  inquiry. 
He  came  to  the  central  house  on  the  right  hand,  a  small, 
pretty  frame  building;  examined  the  windows,  as  he  had 
those  of  the  .other  cottages  and  with  like  result,  and  passed 
on  by.  Between  it  and  the  next  house  lay  a  garden  filled 
with  bushes,  plants,  and  vines.  In  front,  next  the  road, 
were  open  beds  of  richly  colored  flowers  in  full  bloom. 
Further  back  there  were  hedges  of  tall  rose  bushes  and 
various  other  plants,  lining  winding  walks.  All  these 
walks  went  to  a  common  centre,  a  circle  enclosed  by  a  high 
hedge,  which  surrounded  an  arbor  covered  with  vines. 

Hartley  did  not  at  the  time  notice  the  symmetrical 
and  charming  arrangement  of  the  garden,  for  he  was 
not  in  a  condition  to  receive  pleasurable  impressions ;  and 
he  would  have  gone  on  past,  but  that  just  as  he  was  abreast 
the  arbor,  he  heard  a  few  notes  of  a  sqi^g  come  from  its 
direction.  He  instantly  checked  the  horse,  and  lookpd 
that  way  with  a  beating  heart,  for  the  voice  seemed  famij- 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  109 

iar  and  the  song  was  one  be  had  heard  before.     He  listened 
intently.     The  voice  sang  sweet  and  clear  again, 

"  Bee  in  the  deep  flower-bells. 
Brook  in  the  cavern  dim. 
Fawn  in  the  woodland  dells 
Hidethhim." 

And  in  a  moment  more  Mary  Dewhurst  appeared, 
walking  in  one  of  the  hedge-lined  paths  directly  toward  him. 

At  that  sight  he  no  longer  felt  heat,  or  fatigue,  or  agi- 
tation. With  a  coolness  which  must  have  been  exaltation, 
he  dismounted,  tbrew  his  animal's  rein  over  the  low  gar- 
den palings,  and  sprang  over  himself.  Mary  had  not  seen 
him,  and  was  now  walking  toward  the  house.  He  called 
her :  "  Mary  !  "  was  all  he  could  say.  At  his  voice  she 
stopped  and  turned,  saw  him,  and  became  very  pale. 
She  stood  motionless  awaiting  him. 

He  went  rapidly  to  her,  and  took  her  hand  in  his  with- 
out saying  a  word.  For  a  moment  they  remained  so, 
until  Hartley  could  speak  and  Mary's  face  had  changed 
from  white  to  vivid  rose.  All  Hartley's  resolves,  his  inten- 
tion of  waiting  for  encouragement,  his  eloquent  speeches 
thought  out  on  night  watches — all  vanished  away.  He 
was  silent  for  a  time,  but  his  face  spoke  for  him.  "  Dear 
Mary  ?  "  he  said  at  last,  and  that  was  all. 

Then  he  dropped  her  hand,  and  plucking  a  white  rose 
he  turned  again  to  her.  She  took  the  rose  with  a  most 
lovely  smile,  a  smile  that  expressed  her  mingled  emotion 
of  gladness,  shame,  and  agitation  at  once.  "Let  us  go 
into  the  arbor,"  said  he,  offering  his  arm.  She  took  it,  and 
they  walked  together  back  into  the  path  by  which  she  had 
come  out,  the  hedges  hiding  them  more  and  more,  until 
they  reached  the  cool  inner  seclusion  and  shade. 

There  he  stopped,  and  turning  to  her,  took  the  rose 
from  her  hand  and  placed  it  in  her  hair.  Then  he  took 
her  in  his  arms  for  an  instant  and  kissed  her.  Mary  suf- 
fered it,  though  she  drew  back  and  did  not  return  his  caress. 


110  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"Sit  down,  Mr.  Hartley,"  said  she;  and  he  saw  her 
eyes  full  of  shining  tears. 

"  Please  do  not  call  me  that  :  my  name  is  Henry  for 
you." 

"  Well ;  if  I  must,"  she  answered,  smiling  through  her 
tears. 

"  Dear  Mary,"  he  said,  "  I  have  made  you  cry.  I  am 
sorry.  I  won*t  do  so  any  more."  As  soon  as  he  said  it, 
he  felt  that  it  was  either  a  false  promise  or  he  wished  it  to 
be ;  but  she  answered,  "  No — I  feel  very  glad  you  have 
come.     But— Henry,  please  do  not — " 

"  What,  my  own  love  ?  " 

" Do  not  put  you  arms  around  me,"  she  went  on  ;  "I 
hardly  seem  acquainted  with  you — it  has  been  such  a  little 
while  since  we  first  met — I  seem  hardly  to  know  you,  yet 
—I  can't  tell  why  I  am  so  gla^  to  see  you." 

"  Well,  my  dear  one,  I  have  enough,  I  am  satisfied — 
satisfied  is  a  poor  word  for  it — I  am  paid  for  all."  He 
looked  upward  and  said,  in  a  voice  of  rapturous  address, 
"  O,  how  thankful  I  am !  "  ^Mary's  eyes  fairly  ran  over 
with  sympathetic  emotion  at  beholding  the  deep  joy  of  the 
man  whom  she  loved  so  much  better  than  she  knew. 

After  awhile  she  asked  him  what  he  meant  by  being 
paid  for  all.  Hartley  forgot  his  rash  promise,  and  straight- 
way tried  to  kiss  her  again. 

"  That  is  what  pays  lor  all,"  he  said. 

"  Henry,  Henry,  you  said  you  would  not." 

"  I  forgot,"  he  answered  contritely.    . 

"  You  must  remember,  sir,"  she  said  severely,  but  she 
smiled  as  she  said  it.  "  I  did  not  ask  about  the  pay," — she 
blushed, — "  but  what  you  meant  by  alV* 

Then  Hartley  went  back  to  his  hopes,  fears,  anxieties, 
and  jealousy  ;  and  Mary  listened  sweetly,  and  questioned 
a  little,  and  kept  him  in  his  seventh  heaven,  while  her 
heart  more  and  more  warmed  to  him,  as  she  more  and  more 
understood  how  strong  was  his  love.  She  felt  as  if  she, 
too,  were  getting  into  love. 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVT.  Ill 

Surely  it  was  a  pleasant  thing  for  them,  two  very  nice 
young  folks,  good-looking  and  adoring  each  other,  to 
come  to  such  a  mutual  understanding.  Spring,  and  flowers, 
and  soft  breezes,  and  waving  vines,  and  fresh  fragrances, 
and  love,  and  one  another — we  don't  get  anything  more 
blissful  in  these  low  grounds  of  sorrow.  Hartley  was  un- 
conscious of  the  world,  however.  World,  and  life,  and  time 
were  effaced  from  his  mind  ;  a  throbbing  ecstasy  of  love, 
and  a  joyful  longing  for  expression,  supplanting  all  the 
rest.  He  knew  nothing  but  happiness  then.  And  there 
they  sat  for  hours,  taking  no  note  of  time,  after  the  manner 
of  lovers,  but,  nevertheless,  having  a  very  good  time.  How 
silly  such  love  seems  to  us  old  married  people  ! 

When  Hartley  hitched  his  marine  charger  to  the  fence, 
everybody  in  the  house  but  Mary  was  asleep,  taking  a  nap 
after  luncheon.  The  kitchen  windows  did  not  look  that 
way,  so  he  was  entirely  unobserved,  and  had  a  clear  field, 
or  garden,  to  himself.  The  family  awoke  up  after  awhile, 
and  missed  Mary,  but  supposing  her  in  the  garden,  where 
she  loved  to  idle,  they  did  not  seek  her.  But  the  lovers 
were  both  so  entirely  oblivious,  that  at  last  Mrs.  Dewhurst 
and  Isabel  went  out  to  look  up  the  absentee. 

The  sound  of  their  approaching  voices  recalled  the  pair 
in  the  arbor  to  consciousness.  Mary  looked  ashamed  and 
scared. 

"  Let's  go  out  and  meet  them,"  said  Hartley. 

"Oh!  no!" 

"  Well,  they  will  come  in  and  find  us,"  laughed  he  ; 
*'  I  am  willing  for  anybody  to  see  me  when  Mary  Dewhurst 
honors  me  by  taking  my  arm." 

She  took  his  arm  and  they  went  out,  but  her  courage 
failed  her  and  she  let  go  again.  When  the  ladies  came 
upon  them  around  a  bend  of  the  path,  Mary  was  shrinking 
as  close  to  the  hedge  as  she  could  get,  Hartley  edging  over 
after  her  ;  she  blushing  fearfully,  and  he  as  gay  as  a  child. 
Of  course  the  ladies  read  the  situation  at  once,  but  Hart- 
ley's  lightsome  joyousness  was  perplexing  to  Mrs.  Dew- 


112  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

hurst.  She  felt  it  to  be  a  serious  matter.  Was  not  Mary 
her  only  child  ?  and  her  happiness  or  sorrow  through  life 
now  settled  ?  But  of  course  Hartley  could  not  look  at  it 
with  her  eyes.  He  was  ever  so  glad  to  see  them,  asked 
questions  about  their  voyage,  praised  their  lovely  garden 
in  flowing  extravagant  words,  dilated  on  their  charming 
situation,  and  was  overjoyed  to  hear  of  Mr.  Dewhurst's 
improved  health. 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  asked  how  long  he  had  been  there,  allud- 
ing to  the  arrival  of  the  ship.  Hartley  replied,  with  an 
unavoidable  look  at  Mary,  that  "  he  did  not  know  exactly." 
Then  pulling  out  his  watch  he  found  it  was  five  o'clock. 

"Miss  Mary's  conversation  was  so  interesting  after 
being  so  long  away  from  home  and  tossing  about  at  sea, 
that  I  really  did  not  observe." 

Isabel  smiled  openly  at  him,  and  Mrs.  Dewhurst's  face 
relaxed. 

"  When  did  the  Flying  Fish  arrive,  I  mean,"  she  said. 

"  Oh,  I  thought — she  came  in  early  this  morning," 
replied  Hartley.     Mary  was  as  mute  as  a  mouse  all  the  time. 

After  awhile  Mrs.  Dewhurst  asked  him  into  the  house. 
Mr.  Dewhurst  met  him  rather  queerly. 

"  I  can't  say  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  sir ;  but  be  welcome  : 
I  expected  you  would  come." 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  looked  aghast  for  an  instant  at  the 
apparently  discourteous  speech.  Isabel  favored  Hartley 
with  one  of  her  quiet  smiles,  which  always  meant  some- 
thing. Mary  was  astonished,  and  managed  to  raise  her 
eyes,  but  dropped  them  again  on  finding  her  father  looking 
reproachfully  at  her.     Hartley  answered  pleasantly  : 

"I  remember  your  saying  on  our  first  meeting  that 
you  were  a  friend  to  the  service  and  always  glad  to  see 
naval  officers,  sir;  and  Miss  Mary  accused  you  of  mer- 
cenary gratitude.     Must  I  believe  she  was  right  ?" 

"  It's  not  that  I  love  Rome  less,  but  Mary — I  mean 
Caesar — more,"  replied  Mr.  Dewhurst  dryly. 

Hartley  understood,  and  let  the  ladies  turn  the  talk. 


A   8T0EY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  113 

He  tried  to  get  a  cue  from  Mary  as  to  her  wishes,  for 
he  was  longing  to  speak  to  her  parents,  particularly  to  Mrs. 
Dewhurst.  In  his  joyfulness  he  was  ready  to  adopt  that 
lady  as  mamma.  But  Mary  would  not  look  at  him,  and,  had 
she  wished  to  give  him  a  word  apart,  she  had  no  chance. 
She  really  felt  that  she  had  been  too  forward,  and  was 
afflicted  with  the  usual  complaint  of  modest  maidens  in 
like  circumstances.  So  when  the  talk  was  talked  out,  and 
Mrs.  Dewhurst  and  Isabel  could  not  keep  it  going  any 
longer,  Hartley  felt  that  he  must  leave. 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  gave  him  a  sad  invitation  to  call  fre- 
quently while  in  port  and  to  bring  his  brother  officers 
over.  Mr.  Dewhurst  said  gruffly  that  he  would  be  glad  to 
see  them  all,  and  requested  him  to  tell  the  captain  he  should 
do  himself  the  honor  of  making  him  a  visit.  Isabel  said 
good-by  cordially,  and  shook  hands  to  give  Hartley  a  pre- 
text for  holding  Mary's  hand  a  second.  That  young 
woman  could  not  speak  yet,  but  gave  him  a  look  that  did 
him  good.     She  was  as  shy  as  a  fawn. 

Once  out  of  the  house  he  walked  rapidly  away  so  brim- 
ming full  of  happiness  that  he  felt  he  must  hurry  to  save  it 
from  wasting  by  pouring  some  of  it  into  Garnet's  sympa- 
thizing bosom.  At  six  he  was  aboard  again,  and  in  ten 
minutes  had  Garnet  forward  telling  him  incoherently  all 
about  it.  No,  not  all ;  for  he  found  there  was  now  a  line 
he  could  not  pass,  that  he  had  now  a  subject  of  which  he 
could  not  give  a  full  account  to  his  old  friend. 

Garnet  was  pleased  that  Hartley  was  so  glad,  but  also 
rather  bored.  On  the  whole  he  stood  it  very  well  and 
managed  to  sympathize  enough  and  to  make  the  few 
remarks  necessary.  He  did  try  to  joke  him,  but  soon  saw 
he  might  as  well  make  fun  of  the  main-mast  for  all  the 
impression  produced. 

x\t  supper  Hartley  told  a  good  new  story,  laughed  at 
old  yarns  which  the  day  before  had  been  wearisome,  ate  a 
hearty  meal,  and  was  altogether  so  buoyant  and  cheerful, 
that  his  messmates  felt  and  wondered  at  the  change.     He 


114  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

had  the  morning  watch,  but,  knowing  he  could  not  sleep, 
exchanged  with  the  other  officers  so  as  to  be  on  duty  until 
two  o'clock.  Four  hours  never  passed  so  quickly  before, 
as  six  did  that  night.  He  scarcely  felt  the  hard  deck  he 
trod,  or  observed  the  passage  of  time,  for  he  was  engaged 
in  going  over  and  over  again  the  events  of  the  afternoon. 


CHAPTER  XL 


lyrEXT  morning  the  boatswain  and  most  of  the  midship- 
•^ '  men  went  on  shore  together,  starting  early  and  full 
of  expectations  of  pleasure.  After  cruising  about  the 
town  a  few  hours,  buying  all  sorts  of  trashy  curiosities, 
drinking  a  good  deal  of  poor  wine  and  eating  vast  quanti- 
ties of  fruit,  they  hired  horses  and  rode  into  the  coun- 
try. They  alarmed  and  amused  the  natives  by  their  reck- 
less and  peculiar  style  of  riding.  Several  of  them  tumbled 
off  the  horses,  but,  with  the  usual  luck  of  middies,  none  of 
them  were  severely  hurt,  though  at  last  one  was  stunned  by 
the  fall.  Mr,  Thick  dismounted  and  went  up  to  the  uncon- 
scious youngster,  and  asked  if  he  were  hurt.  Of  course  he 
got  no  answer.  Thereupon  he  turned  to  the  party  riding 
up  and  told  them  to  keep  back  and  give  him  air. 

"  Is  he  hurt,  bos'n  ?  "  asked  half  a  dozen  of  them. 

"No,  he's  quiet,"  replied  Thick;  "just  give  him  air. 
Some  o'  you  fellows  might  ride  over  him  now,  if  I  wasn't 
along.  There  ought  to  always  be  an  old  hand  along 
to  look  out  for  squalls  in  these  hoss  cruises,  specially  when 
midshipmen  is  navigatin'  the  bosses." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  stunned  middy  recovered,  and  gal- 
lantly remounting  insisted  on  going  ahead.  "Nothing 
the  matter  but  a  little  ringing  in  my  head,"  he  said. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  a  small  alligator  pear  tree 
growing  alone  in  an  open  space,  and  far  from  any  house. 
There  was  just  one  pear  on  it.     The  youngsters,  who  were 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAX    NAVY.  115 

curious  to  examine  and  taste  the  new  fruit,  dismounted  and 
hitched  their  horses,  and  tried  to  bring  it  down  by  throwing 
sticks  and  stones.  The  boatswain  thought  it  all  wrong. 
He  pleaded  earnestly  with  them  to  let  it  alone.  He  told 
them  that  it  was  without  doubt  a  cultivated  fruit,  and 
asked  them  how  they  would  like  to  have  their  apples 
stolen  at  home.  One  middy  said  to  that,  that  "  he  had 
no  apples  himself,  but  it  was  plaguy  good  fun  to  hook 
other  people's."     The  boatswain  begged  unavailingly, 

A  lady  and  gentleman  passing  in  a  carriage  stopped  a 
minute  out  of  curiosity  to  see  what  the  party  of  boys 
in  uniform  were  doing.  Thick  insisted  that  the  couple 
were  probably  the  owners  of  the  tree,  and  were  going  to 
town  to  send  out  the  police.  Still  the  missiles  flew  at  the 
pear,  which,  though  bruised,  clung  to  its  stem  tenaciously. 
Evidently,  the  pear  was  not  ripe. 

Mr.  Thick  made  a  last  appeal.  "  Young  gentlemen, 
you  are  officers  in  the  United  States  Kavy,  and  accordin' 
as  officers  behave  oji  shore,  'longshore  folks  thinks  well  or 
ill  o*  the  service.  You  ought  always  to  try  and  propitiate 
the  inhabitants  wherever  you  go,  for  the  good  o'  the  ser- 
vice. I'm  going  back  to  town."  So  saying,  he  got  upon  his 
horse  and  rode  away.  Either  his  speech  or  his  departure 
made  the  midshipmen  leave  the  pear  where  they  found  it. 

They  all  went  back  another  way.  At  a  bend  in  the 
road  a  culvert  was  constructing  to  take  the  place  of  an 
old  plank  bridge  over  a  gully,  and  there  was  an  unguarded 
opening  about  twelve  feet  deep  on  one  side.  On  the  other 
side  enough  of  the  culvert  was  completed  for  a  narrow 
road-way.  A  long  slope  led  to  it  from  the  side  by  which 
the  mids  were  approaching,  and  down  this  slope  they  gal- 
loped, holding  on  to  the  pommels  of  their  saddles  and 
cheering,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  hole  around  the  cor- 
ner. Coming  suddenly  on  it  in  a  body,  they  were  unable 
to  stop,  and  the  consequence  was  that  two  of  those  on  the 
outside  were  crowded  off  into  the  gully. 

The  midshipmen  scrambled  out  unhurt,  but  it  was  hard 


116  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

on  the  other  animals.  One  horse  was  killed  and  the  other 
had  a  fore-leg  broken.  The  mishap  and  the  sudden  expec- 
tation of  a  big  bill  at  the  stable  sobered  the  party  down. 
Mr.  Thick  was  the  only  one  who  seemed  entirely  un- 
dismayed. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  you  get  blue  under  the 
gills  too  quick.  Surely  it  isn't  much  for  so  large  a  party 
as  this  to  pay  for  one  horse." 

"It's  two." 

"  Because  that  brute  has  broke  his  leg  we  have  to  pay 
for  him  !  No,  sir,  that  is  too  old  a  trick  to  take  in  William 
Thick  with.  I  know  the  stable-keepers  always  charge  it ; 
but,  young  gentlemen,  it  is  a  common  thing  for  bosses  in 
such  a  fix  to  recover  their  health.  Oh,  1  know  a  good  deal 
about  bosses — you  needn't  laugh,  Mr.  Larkin.  Now  I'm 
goin'  to  show  you  what  to  do  for  a  sick  boss." 

So  saying  he  drew  from  his  pockets  a  number  of  par- 
cels carefully  tied  up  in  old  newspapers,  which  proved  to 
contain  wads  of  oakum,  pieces  of  ratlines  stuff,  and  bits  of  old 
canvas.  The  middies  gathered  around,  and  laughed  uproar- 
iously as  each  bundle  was  unwrapped. 

"  I  always  carry  my  tools  with  me  as  far  as  I  can,  in 
case  accidents  should  happen.  I  see  nothin'  to  laugh  at. 
Where  would  you  be  now,  if  I  hadn't  been  thinkin'/br  you 
before  we  left  the  ship." 

Mr.  Thick  cut  several  sticks,  which  he  said  were 
"  Scotchmen  for  splints."  He  then  bent  the  ratlines  stuff  to 
the  horse's  hind  legs,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  mid- 
shipmen dragged  the  animal  a  few  feet  further  up  the 
gully,  remarking  that  "  it  was  no  good  to  fix  him  up  if 
they  left  him  right  there  where  a  low  bridge  would  soon 
go  over  him."     Then  he  set  to  work. 

"Steady  out  the  leg  lines,  young  gentlemen — Mr. 
Young,  catch  a  turn  over  that  rock  !  Swing  off  on  it,  Mr. 
Young.  There,  belay  !  I  don't  care  to  get  kicked  while  I 
fish  him.  Now  mind  you  don't  slack  up,  anybody,  don't 
check  an  inch.     Mr.  Munson,  oblige  me   by  sitting  on  his 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  117 

head.  Mr.  Smith,  I'll  trouble  you  to  dip  while  I  serve. 
Mr.  Godolphin,  .stand  by  with  the  Scotchmen,  sir."  By 
this  time  the  beast  was  very  thoroughly  secured,  and  lay 
still  and  resigned  to  whatever  might  come.  Mr.  Thick 
commenced  working. 

"You  see,  young  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "I  know  well 
what  I  am  doin',  and  you  had  all  better  observe ;  though  I 
see  by  your  looks  you  are  not  inclined  to  regard  it  serious. 
By  the  hokum  !  my  own  fore-leg — my  arm,  I  mean — was 
broke  in  two  places  once,  and  I  reckon  a  man's  better'n  a 
hoss  any  day.  Mr.  Munson,  you  must  preserve  your  grav- 
ity better.  Laugh,  if  it  pleases  you,  but  don't  sway  and 
surge  in  that  lubberly  fashion,  or  you'll  fall  off." 

Thick  covered  the  fore-leg  very  deftly  with  canvas,  as 
if  he  were  parcelling  a  forward  swifter,  laid  on  his  impro- 
vised splints  with  care,  and  secured  them  by  wrapping 
them  around  with  the  spun-yarn.     He  got  up  exclaiming : 

"  There's  a  good  job  well  done,  ship-shape  and  Bristol 
fashion,  and  a  hoss  saved.  But  avast !  we  must  secure 
him  for  heavy  .weather  or  he'll  be  getting  adrift  and  there'll 
be  the  devil  to  pay  and  no  pitch  hot." 

So  saying  he  tied  the  brute's  hind  feet  together,  and 
fastened  back  his  "  spare  fore-leg,"  putting  on  canvas  to 
prevent  chafe. 

"There,  young  gentlemen,  you  are  one  hoss  better  off 
than  you  would  have  been  if  I  hadn't  been  along." 

"  How  long  will  it  take  him  to  get  out  of  the  «ick-bay, 
bos'n  ?  " 

"Ten  days,  so  as  to  be  about,  though  he  shouldn't  be 
rode  by  midshipmen  short  of  a  month." 

"  But  what's  he  goin'  to  eat  ?  " 

"  You're  right,"  replied  the  boatswain.  "  Hey,  John  !  " 
he  called  to  a  black  man  who  had  been  watching  the  latter 
part  of  the  operation  from  the  bank  of  the  gully;  "come 
here.  We  got  one  sickee  hossee — very  bad."  The  darkey 
knew  no  English,  but  saw  he  was  addressed,  and  grinned 
wide  and  whitely. 


118  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  You  fetchee  this  hossee  plenty  water,  plenty — what 
does  a  hoss  eat? — yes — all  right — plenty  hay,  plenty 
corny;  and  when  he  git  well,  you  know,  takee  off  that 
bit  o'  ratlin'  stuffee,  and  secure  him  at  Jansen's  stable." 

The  darkey  laughed  again,  and  Thick,  with  some  idea 
that  his  directions  were  not  perfectly  understood,  took  out 
a  dollar,  and  throwing  it  to  him,  said  gruffly, 

"  There's  a  dollar,  you  dam  fool  ;  take  that  for  your 
trouble,  and  when  we  get  back  this  way,  I'll  take  it  out  of 
your  hide,  if  you  don't  tend  to  him  right." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Thick,"  said  a  middy,  "  you  ought  always 
to  try  to  propitiate  the  inhabitants." 

"  He's  no  inhabitant — nothin'  but  a  dirty  nigger." 

The  party  returned  to  town,  the  two  dismounted  mids 
riding  double  on  the  quietest  horses.  They  were  much 
disgusted  at  having  to  pay  for  the  two  horses  after  all, 
and  Mr.  Thick  would  not  agree  to  it  until  the  stable-keeper 
made  him  understand  that  he  had  acquired  a  title  to  the 
wounded  animal.  That  matter  settled,  they  put  their  re- 
maining cash  together,  bought  a  small  but  vicious  monkey 
with  it,  and  went  on  board. 

That  night  a  heavy  shower  fell,  which  converted  the 
gully  into  a  torrent  as  usual,  and  furnished  "plenty 
water  "  to  put  the  poor  horse  out  of  bis  misery. 

Hartley  had  a  very  different  day  of  it.  He  arranged 
with  Garnet  so  as  to  be  free  of  duty,  and  went  as  straight 
to  the  house  in  which  Mary  lived  as  the  streets  would  let 
hira,  and  as  fast  as  he  could  walk.  He  arrived  at  rather 
an  early  hour,  but  little  was  his  happy  mind  troubled  by 
the  conventionalities.  Mary  received  him  blushingly  and 
with  pleasure,  but  she  was  not  very  demonstrative,  evi- 
dently would  rather  the  kiss  had  been  omitted,  and  seemed 
somewhat  constrained.  Hartley  felt  it,  but  thought  he 
ought  to  be  satisfied  with  what  he  had,  it  was  so  much 
more  than  he  deserved,  or  had  only  yesterday  dared  to  hope. 

Mary  could  not  explain  the  causes  of  her  reserve,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  but  surprised  Hartley  by  replying  to  his 


A    STOKT    OF   THE   AMEKIGAN    NAVY.  119 

self-depreciation,  that  it  was  she  who  was  unworthy.  They 
had  a  lovers'  argument  over  that,  which  left  it  doubtful 
whether  they  were  both  undeserving  or  each  too  good  for 
the  other.  After  awhile  Hartley  asked  permission  to  speak 
to  papa  and  mamma. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  you  really  ought,"  she  said 
hesitatingly,  "I — dear  Henry — I  do  care  for  you  a  little 
bit,  I  know,  but  I  am  not  sure — maybe  it's  only  a  girl's 
passing  fancy — maybe  you'll  see  somebody  you  like  better 
than  I.  I  don't  think  it  ought  to  be  all  settled — 1  am 
not  good  enough  to  be  your  wife — I" — and  she  broke 
down  and  had  to  cry. 

Hartley  was  all  compassion,  and  gentleness,  and 
soothing.  For  once  his  impulse  was.  wisdom.  "Dear 
Mary,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  want  to  trouble  you.  Don't  cry. 
You  mustn't  say  you  are  not  good  enough  for  me,  dear. 
I'm  so  sorry  I  annoyed  you,"  and  plenty  more  in  the  same 
consoling  strain.  The  rogue  bad  a  good  voice,  and  be 
made  it  as  kind  as  a  man's  could  be. 

That  helped  Mary  to  recover  herself  and  say,  "It  wasn't 
anything  he  did,  but  she  was — she  couldn't  tell  just  what 
it  was — she  was  foolish  to  cry  for  nothing." 

When  she  had  dried  her  tears  of  maidenly  compunction, 
Hartley  began  to  argue  with  her.  He  assured  her  posi- 
tively that  she  did  love  him,  and  that  she  would  find  it 
out,  and  that  he  was  more  than  satisfied  if  she  would 
only  endure  him.  He  asked  her  to  imagine  that  he  was 
going  away  in  an  hour  and  that  she  knew  she  would  never 
see  him  again — how  would  she  feel  then  ?  She  was  obliged 
to  confess  that  he  was  very  different  from  Martin  in  her 
estimation  and  that  she  had  never  felt  toward  any  one  else 
as  she  did  toward  him. 

"  That  difierence  is  the  difierence  between  love  and 
friendship,"  he  said.  Then  he  touched  her  heart  by  paint- 
ing a  picture  of  his  life  without  her  affection,  making  it 
sufficiently  doleful.  At  last  she  again  consented  for  him  to 
see  her  father. 


120  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

This  time  he  would  not  risk  a  minute's  waiting,  for  Mary- 
had  alarmed  him,  but  obtained  an  interview  with  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst  at  once,  and  without  parley  plunged  into  business. 

"  Mr.  Dewhurst,"  said  he,  "  I  wrote  to  you  some  time 
ago  about  my  wish  to  make  your  daughter  my  wife,  and 
you  left  me  free  to  do  the  best  I  could.  I  am  glad  to  say 
I  have  been  successful.  Mary  has  allowed  me  to  ask  for 
your  approval  of  her  choice." 

Mr.  Dewhurst  looked  mighty  grave. 

"  Hem  I  You  are  aware  that  my  daughter  has  always 
lived  in  comfort — I  might  say,  luxury — sir  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Hartley. 

"  Of  course  you  expect  to  assure  her  future  ?  "      ' 

"  That  has  been  my  intention,"  replied  Hartley, 
"  though  I  know  that  it  is  not  customary,  in  the  sense  you 
mean," 

"  It  may  not  be  customary,  but  in  my  daughter's  case  I 
make  it  necessary,  sir.  Allow  me  to  ask  what  you  will 
give  her  to  hold  in  her  OAvn  name  ?  " 

Hartley  thought  a  minute,  tore  a  leaf  out  of  his  pocket- 
book,  made  a  memorandum  and  handed  it  to  the  careful 
parent.     He  examined  the  list. 

"  Hem  !  house  on — mum-mum-mum— one  hundred 
shai;es — mum-mum — "  he  read  in  a  low  voice.  "  This  is 
entirely  satisfactory,  Mr.  Hartley.  I'll  do  as  much  for  her 
the  day  you  are  married." 

Hartley  said  no  more,  repelled  by  his  expectant  father- 
in-law's  coolness  and  satisfied  with  his  own  success  ;  and  he 
was  going  out  when  Mr.  Dewhurst  spoke. 

"  Mr.  Hartley,  I  am  sorry  to  part  with  my  girl.  She  is 
nearly  as  good  as  her  mother.  I'd  cheerfully  give  away 
half  what  I'm  worth,  to  charitable  institutions,  if  I  could 
have  her  always  with  me  as  she  was  before  she  saw  you." 

"  Good,"  thought  Hartley,  as  Mr.  Dewhurst  paused  an 
instant,  "I'll  make  a  point  with  Mary.  Her  father  sees  the 
difference." 

"  I  must  say,  however,  that  it  is  unreasonable  in  me  to 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  121 

want  her  to  remain  unmarried,  and  you,  I  believe,  will  treat 
her  well — better  than  anybody  else  that  has  been  trying  to 
get  her.  If  my  consent  is  not  very  cordial  you  know  it  is 
from  no  objections  to  you." 

Hartley  thanked  him.  Mr.  Dewhurst  laughed,  and  told 
Hartley  he  was  by  odds  the  best  son-in-law  to  be  had. 

"  You'll  be  forever  cruising  and  out  of  the  way,  and  I'll 
just  have  Mary  at  home  with  me." 

Hartley  smiled  and  started  out  again. 

"Stop  a  minute;  what  is  your  hurry,"  said  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst ;  "  it's  best  to  have  a  perfect  understanding.  I  want 
to  tell  you  the  real  reason  I  agreed  with  you  so  promptly. 
I  didn't  believe  till  this  morning  that  you  cared  enough  for 
Mary,  but  when  I  saw  that  horse  standing  half-starved  at 
my  fence  I  was  satisfied.  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  Any  young  man 
that  forgets  a  livery-horse,  and  walks  off  leaving  him 
hitched  indefinitely,  must  be  in  earnest.  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  ! 
There— ha  !  ha  !  Go  hunt  her  up— ha  !  ha  !  ha  ! "  Hart- 
ley escaped. 

When  he  found  Mary  again,  it  transpired  that  she  had 
seen  her  mother  and  had  another  cry — a  good  one,  this 
time — and  was  now  tolerably  resigned.  Hartley  got  his 
kiss  by  insisting  that  it  was  the  seal  of  their  engagement 
and  quite  the  regular  thing. 

**  How  did  you  learn  so  much,  sir  ?  "  she  asked,  laughing. 

"  Experience  is  a  hard  school — "  he  began. 

"  There  ! — I  know  the  rest,"  she  cried  ;  "  how  absurd  ! 
But  is  there  any  real  necessity  for — for  this  sealing  pro- 
cess ?  "  she  finished  demurely,  with  averted  eyes. 

"Absolutely  essential,  I  assure  you.  Come,  dear, 
just— '•• 

"  Oh,  what  a  tease  !  One  would  think  you  were  afraid 
something  would  get  cold.  How  about  those  other  times, 
sir  ?  "  she  asked  saucily,  still  avoiding  his  eyes. 

"  Oh,  that  was  robbery — the  right  of  the  strongest,  you 
know. 

"  Well,  you  ought  to  allow  an  offset,  if  that's  the  case." 
6 


122  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

"What  do  you  know  about  set-offs,  my  little  Portia? 
You  belong  to  me  now,  and  your  first  duty  is  to  make  me 
happy.  I  can't  be  happy  without— just  this  once,  Mary  ; 
you  must." 

"  Will  you  go  out  of  my  sight  instantly  ?  " 

"  Twice  as  quick  as  that." 

"Well — then — if  I  must^''  and  a  wave  of  pink  blush 
spread  over  her  as  she  held  up  her  face. 

"  TFAy,  Henry  l"^"*  He  was  gathering  the  rosebuds 
while  he  might.     Instead  of  one  it  was  six  at  least. 

Hartley  ran  out,  feeling  that  he  had  to  pay  for  his 
brief  thrill  of  pleasure,  and  Mary  was  sorry,  too,  for  she 
had  not  really  meant  that  he  should  go. 

After  this  she  was  more  amenable  to  discipline,  and 
made  no  more  objections  ;  but  for  all  that  Hartley  still 
felt  a  little  indefinable  something  keeping  Ihem  apart. 
He  grew  more  dissatisfied  and  uneasy  from  day  to  day. 
On  shore,  and  with  his  beautiful  idol,  he  was  content,  but 
on  board  ship,  and  on  duty,  he  would  vex  his  righteous 
soul  with  remembering  and  interpreting  the  things  which 
had  occurred.  He  had  a  sort  of  short-hand  fashion  of  set- 
ting events  down  in  his  head  as  they  came  along,  and 
afterward  would  amuse  himself  by  translating  them  at 
full  length,  sometimes  incorrectly.  In  Mary's  case  the 
sometimes  became  frequently  :  he  was  too  much  interested 
to  be  a  good  judge.  The  truth  was  that  she  loved  him, 
and  with  growing  affection,  but  she  could  not  show  her 
feelings  as  he  did,  and  her  woman's  love  was  gentler  and 
more  immature  than  his  masculine  passion.  To  use  Mr. 
Washington  Irving's  figure,  his  love  was  a  fast-growing, 
strong,  young  tree  in  a  rich  soil  and  under  hot  suns.  It 
would  die  from  over-stimulus  and  over-growth,  or  else 
change  into  a  character  more  enduring.  Her  affection  was 
a  young  grape-vine,  well  started,  with  a  good  chance  to 
live — perhaps  likely  to  live  longer  than  the  tree.  Fur- 
thermore, Mary  was  a  thorough  woman,  and  she  quickly  dis- 
covered, perhaps  knew  by  intuition,  what  few  of  them  are 


A   STORY  OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  12  o 

slow  in  learning,  that  no  market  is  more  easily  glutted 
than  that  of  a  woman's  favors.  And  more  yet,  she  was 
not  only  modest  but  bashful.  And  further  still,  she  had  a 
persistent  feeling  lingering  in  her  gentle  bosom,  that  she 
neither  cared  for  Hartley  as  she  ought,  nor  was  she  a  good 
•enough  person  to  go  through  life  by  his  side.  She  was  so 
good,  she  was  humble,  and  she  did  not  know  herself  very 
well,  you  see.  However,  it  was  not  surprising  that  she 
accepted  him.  There  is  something  which  generally  makes 
women  accept  the  right  men,  even  though  they  are  doubt- 
ful about  their  feelings.  When  the  proper  one  comes,  this 
vague  force  comes  in  and  insures  future  happiness. 

Hartley  had  a  talk  with  Garnet  the  same  day.  He  told 
:how  the  course  of  his  love  was  running  smooth,  how  the 
engagement  had  been  regularly  formed,  and  then  spoke  of 
his  feelings  and  happiness.  Garnet's  cool  acceptance  of 
the  latter  part  of  the  story  rather  piqued  his  friend,  but  he 
saw  it,  and  discreetly  showed  more  interest,  thus  soothing 
rising  discontent.  Hartley  was  so  happy  just  at  this 
moment,  that  he  charitably  longed  for  the  whole  world, 
and  Garnet  in  particular,  to  enjoy  similar  feelings.  He 
thought,  Now  here's  my  dear  old  Will,  a  crusty  bachelor 
with  no  confidence  in  women — who  are  angels — and  not 
taring  to  see  anything  of  them.  He  gets  worse,  too,  from 
year  to  year.  He  will  be  lonesome  when  we  are  married, 
and  I  resign  and  leave  him.  He  ought  to  have  a  wife  to  turn 
to — a  good,  sweet  woman — just  like  my  Mary,  if  that  were 
possible.  Isabel  would  do — ^he  hardly  deserves  him — she 
is  so  cold — but  she  would  do,  I  guess.  I'll  sound  him. 
"  Will,  you  are  getting  old." 
"  That's  a  business  we're  all  engaged  in." 
"  The  first  thing  you  know  you'll  be  a  dried-up,  bald- 
headed  commodore." 

"  The  promotion  and  extra  pay  won't  come  on  me  with- 
out my  persayvin  it,  as  Paddy  said." 

"A  weazened,  fretful  old  chap,  with  no   amusement 
but  to  haze  your  officers.     If  .you  don't  change  your  ways 


124  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

you'll  not  have  a  soul  to  care  for  you — leaving  out  myself 
at  a  distance — and  no  other  correspondent,  besides  the 
Navy  Department." 

"  Why  do  you  say  yourself  at  a  distance?  " 

"  I  think  I'll  resign  as  soon  as  I'm  married.  Even  if 
I  stayed  in  the  service  we  should  have  to  separate  after 
awhile." 

"  That's  so.  What  remedy  can  you  offer  against  this 
cheerless  old  commodoreship  ?" 

"  One  you  profess  to  hate.  Form  new  ties  nearer  and 
dearer  than  any  you  have  ever  known.  You've  no  busi- 
ness enduring  life  in  your  stoical  way  ;  you've  never  fairly 
tried  it,  and  don't  know  that  you  can't  enjoy  it.  The 
greatest  happiness  in  the  world  is  in  your  reach,  and  you 
won't  take  the  trouble  to  pick  it  up." 

"  You  mean  for  me  to  marry  ?  " 

"  Stupenduous  idea,  and  most  amazing,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"It  is  rather  an  important  thing.  You  must  acknowl- 
edge that  I  am  better  off  than  some  married  men  you 
know." 

"  You  talk  as  cautiously  as  a  young  miss.  Of  course 
it's  a  lottery,  but  choose  the  best  looking  ticket  you  can 
find,  and  trust  to  luck.     There  are  no  blanks,  you  know." 

"No  prizes,  you  mean.  Then,  talking  of  choosing  the 
best  looking  ticket,  in  a  regular  lottery  you  can  get  your 
choice  and  pick,  but  in  this — hem  !  " 

"  Pooh  !  think  of  having  children  growing  up  about 
you,  and  loving  you,  and  catching  you  around  the  legs, 
and  calling  you  daddy,  and  making  you  spin  yarns  for 
them." 

"  I  confess  to  a  liking  for  babies," 

"  A  liking  !  haw  !  haw !  haw-w ! — I  should  say  so. 
Haw-haw-w  !  Recollect  the  time  you  kept  the  boat  waiting 
while  you  stopped  to  hush  the  yellow  baby  that  fell  out  of 
the  door  ?  Dirty  little  thing  !  haw !  haw  !  haw  !  J^nd 
how  the  mother  of  the  imp  blessed  you  for  daring  to  med- 
dle vvith  her  young  one  !     Yes,  you  do  like  babies." 


A   STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  125 

"  Seriously  now,  Will,  it  would  be  a  great  comfort  for 
you  to  be  able  to  think  of  a  good  loving  woman  waiting 
for  you  on  ashore,  and  the  pickaninnies  all  expecting  you." 

"  That's  a  more  attractive  light  to  put  it  in.  I  am  half 
of  your  mind — but  how  am  I  to  manage  it  ?  " 

"  Manage  what  ?  why  your  wife  will  manage  you,  of 
course." 

"The  finding  of  the  wife,  I  mean,  my  dear  fellow  ;  or, 
rather,  the  finding  of  the  woman  to  ask.  We  are  at  some 
distance  from  the  white  settlements  here." 

«  You—" 

"  You  can't  expect  me  to  go  ashore  and  walk  into  every 
door  I  come  to  till  I  find  a  young  woman,  and  then  to  pro- 
pose on  the  spot." 

"  No,  of  course — " 

"  That's  the  only  chance  I  see.  We  shan't  be  stopping 
here  long  enough  to  make  acquaintance  and  do  courting  in 
the  customary  manner." 

"  Will,  there's  a  lady  here  now  that  would  suit  you 
admirably,  and  you  know  her  already." 

"  Miss  Dewhurst  or  Miss  Terrell  ?  " 

"  You  had  better  take  the  one  that  comes  handiest,  if  it 
is  all  the  same  to  you." 

"It  is." 

"  Then  pay  your  attentions  to  Miss  Terrell." 

"  Well,  that's  settled.     Much  obliged,  Hal." 

"I  wish  it  were  settled,  really  and  truly." 

After  awhile  Garnet  said  very  deliberately  : 

"  Harry,  I  have  thought  this  thing  over,  and  I  would 
marry  if  I  could.  But  I  must  have  time  to  learn  something 
about  the  lady — to  pick  a  little,  if  I  may  say  so ; — and  I 
must  be  satisfied  that  she  and  I  can  keep  up  the  high  state 
of  friendship  married  folk  need  so  much  ;  and  I  must  get 
her  to  like  me  well  enough  to  accept  me.  All  this  requires 
time,  and  I  never  have  the  time  ;  so  it  is  more  than  likely  I 
shall  die  single.  But  I  don't  look  forward  to  a  disagreeable 
life.     I  am  very  well  contented."    Then  he   changed  the 


126  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

subject  with  a  question.  "Did  you  hear  about  Dularge's 
observation  ?  " 

"  No.     What  about  it  ?  " 

He  has  been  trying  to  rate  the  chronometers,  and  sad 
work  he  has  made.  I  showed  him  how  to  bring  the  images 
together  in  the  mercury ;  and  every  morning  he  goes 
ashore  and  gets  a  lot  of  sights,  and  comes  off,  and  swears 
over  them  all  day.  He  got  a  notion  in  his  head  that  the 
chart  had  Santa  Cruz  down  in  the  wrong  latitude  ;  and  he 
went  ashore  last  night  to  satisfy  himself  with  an  observa- 
tion of  Polaris.  When  he  returned  I  asked  him  how  he 
had  succeeded.  He  said  he  got  one  image  in  the  quick- 
silver and  guessed  the  reading  was  about  35°  50'." 

"  Gracious,  what  a  fool  !     But  was  he  serious  ?  " 

"  As  far  as  I  could  tell  he  was." 

"  I  declare,  I  don't  half  like  the  idea  of  his  navigation. 
It's  bad  enough  to  trust  him  in  fair  weather  at  sea,  but 
among  these  islands — " 

"  Don't  fret.  The  captain  is  rating,  the  chronometers. 
He  will  not  trust  an  incompetent  officer." 

Garnet  was  somewhat  impressed  by  what  his  friend  had 
said,  in  spite  of  apparent  nonchalance;  and  he  thought 
more  frequently  of  the  dull  prospect  of  a  lonesome  life. 
The  little  he  had  seen  of  Isabel  had  pleased  him.  Now, 
from  being  near  her,  and  hearing  of  her,  and,  perhaps, 
partly  from  Hartley's  infection,  he  again  began  to  reflect 
upon  matrimony. 

Hartley  had  long  since  told  Mary  of  his  love  for  Garnet, 
and  after  their  engagement  had  talked  a  great  deal  of  his 
friend.  Thus  Garnet  became  of  consequence  to  Mary,  vi- 
cariously. She  talked  about  him  fi*eely  to  Isabel,  who  was 
chatty  enough  in  her  company,  so  that  her  cousin  obtained 
indirectly  a  pretty  high  opinion  of  her  Damon's  Pythias. 
Hartley  had  never  mentioned  Isabel's  name  in  speaking  his 
wish  for  Garnet  to  marry.  To-night  he  resolved  to  ask 
Mary  how  the  other  pair  would  match  the  first  time  he  saw 
her.     And  so  he  did. 


A'STOBT    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  127 

Next  day  the  Dewhursts  came  to  see  the  ship.  The 
captain  had  them  in  the  cabin,  and  sent  for  Garnet — Hart- 
ley had  come  off  with  them — to  help  entertain  them.  Garnet 
was  at  first  embarrassed,  for  he  knew  he  should  have  called, 
and  that  he  was  the  only  officer  on  board  who  had  not 
responded  to  the  invitation  given  on  the  ship's  arrival.  The 
Dewhursts  were  too  well-bred  to  question  him,  however, 
even  if  they  had  not  known  of  his  avoidance  of  society. 
Hartley,  in  speaking  of  his  friend,  had  mentioned  this  de- 
fect. He  said,  "  He  is  like  a  soldier  crab,  and  the  ship  is 
his  borrowed  shell.  He  won't  stir  out  of  it  if  he  can  help 
it."  Very  soon  they  put^him  at  his  ease,  and  Mrs.  Dew- 
hurst  devoted  herself  to  making  him  talk.  That  he  was 
able  to  do  very  well  in  a  sensible  straight-forward  manner, 
and  so  he  did  upon  this  occasion.  Isabel,  at  first  listening 
to  her  uncle  and  Captain  Merritt,  was  won  away  by  de- 
grees to  notice  what  Garnet  said,  and  then  to  reply.  She 
was  curious  about  him,  having  got  from  Mary  a  notion 
that  he  was  highly  educated,  witty,  cynical,  and  bashful, 
with  every  needful  good  quality,  all  of  which  did  not  tally 
with  what  she  had  seen  of  him  at  home.  There  the  impres- 
sion made  had  been  of  a  sensible  well-informed  man,  rather 
quiet,  but  not  differing  markedly  from  other  gentlemen. 
But  that  was  stale  and  Mary's  talk  fresh,  so  there  was  a 
slight  confusion  in  her  mind  she  wished  to  settle.  Besides, 
there  was,  perhaps,  a  natural  attraction. 

When  the  captain  showed  them  over  the  ship,  Mrs. 
Dewhurst,  who  was  afraid  the  guns  would  go  off,  took  her 
husband's  arm,  and  Isabel  fell  to  Will  Garnet's  care.  After 
their  tour  of  inspection  was  completed,  and  everything  had 
been  duly  admired  for  its  immaculate  cleanness  and  perfect 
order,  they  went  up  and  had  chairs  on  the  quarter-deck. 
The  awnings  were  spread  and  a  little  breeze  was  blowing. 
Mary  and  Henry  naturally  enjoyed  each  other's  company 
best,  and  sat  apart  in  undemonstrative  pleasure.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dewhurst  had  found  old  memories  or  friends  in  com- 
mon with   Captain  Merritt,  and  the  three  were  chatting 


128  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

quietly.  Garnet  and  Isabel  were  thus  left  an  opportunity 
to  talk  and  to  learn  something  about  one  another,  which 
agreed  with  their  wishes.  When  the  party  returned  to  the 
shore  they  parted  in  a  very  friendly  manner  and  with  a 
mutual  good  opinion.  Garnet  thought,  "  Miss  Terrell  is 
certainly  a  very  superior  girl.  I  do  not  know  that  Hal's 
advice  was  bad."  He  began  to  reflect  on  future  possibil- 
ities, an  occupation  in  which  he  detected  himself,  and  which 
he  ended  by  calling  himself  a  fool. 

The  first  lieutenant  came  up  the  ladder  and  joined  the 
captain  as  soon  as  the  guests  were  well  clear  of  the  ship. 

"  Mr.  McKizick,  I  did  not  send  for  you,  for  I  thought 
you  might  possibly  be  engaged,"  said  Captain  Merritt  with 
his  quizzical  twinkle. 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,  sir,"  replied  McKizick.  "  I  was 
middling  busy — leastways,  I'm  never  much  of  a  hand  to 
palaver  to  strange  ladies.  There's  my  wife  at  home — I  can 
get  along  tolerable  well  with  her,  but  I  can  never  make  out 
exactly  what  course  she's  steering — and  you  can't  expect 
me  to  know  the  motions  of  women  I  never  saw  before." 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  responded  the  captain,  with  another 
twinkle. 

"  I  came  up  to  report  Mr.  Bobbins  to  you,  sir.  He 
staid  on  shore  all  night." 

"  Indeed !  and  what  reason  did  he  give  ?  " 

"  None  of  any  consequence." 

"  Did  he  know  the  order  for  every  one  to  be  off  by 
midnight  ?  " 

«'  Yes,  sir." 

"  I'm  sorry.,  I  suppose  I  must  speak  to  him.  What 
reason  did  he  give  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,"  answered  McKizick  deliberately,  and  with 
seriousness,  "he  came  off  at  seven  bells  in  the  morning 
watch.  I  was  on  deck  and  asked  him  why  he  had  over- 
staid  his  liberty.  He  got  huffy  at  that  and  said  I  talked 
to  him  -like  I  would  to  a  sailor-man.  I  told  him  no  offence 
was  meant,  and  asked  him  the  same  thing  over  in  a  fashion 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  129 

more  agreeable  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  of  marines,  and 
then  he  said  he  didn't  know  as  he  was  accountable  to  me 
for  his  goings  and  comings.  I  told  him  that  was  true,  but 
to  save  trouble  I  generally  attended  to  such  matters,  and 
I  thought  maybe  he  had  a  good  reason  for  not  obeying  the 
order,  which  would  make  it  discretionary  with  me  to  in- 
form you  or  no.  So  he  comes  down  off  the  monument,  and 
tells  me  that  when  he  tried  to  get  a  boat,  it  was  blowing 
so  hard  nobody  would  venture  into  the  harbor  with  him. 
It  was  as  smooth  as  a  mill  pond,  sir,  as  you  know — not  a 
breath  of  air  before  the  middle  of  the  morning  watch. 
But  there  was  no  proper  lie  in  it,  because  he  really  be- 
lieved it  himself.  The  mess  are  joking  below  about  *  Mr. 
Robbins's  hurricane '  now,  sir,  and  I  suspicion  he  was  a 
little  bit  slewed." 

"  Yery  good,  sir.  When  you  go  below  be  so  kind  as  to 
tell  him  I  wish  to  see  him  on  the  quarter-deck." 

"  Aye  ,  aye,  sir."  McKizick  went  on  to  grumble  about 
the  midshipmen,  whom  he  accused  of  being  no  assistance  to 
him,  and  of  no  use  in  the  ship." 

**  Does  Mr.  Larkin  trouble  you  very  much  ?  " 

"  Well,  no — I  can't  say  he  does.  Mr.  Larkin  is  a  little 
lazy,  but  he  has  his  good  points.  He  is  a  very  honorable 
young  gentleman." 

"  That  Mr.  Young  is  a  very  trifling  fellow,  isn't  he  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no ;  I  don't  think  so.  He  is  full  of  sky-larking, 
and  I  have  had  to  punish  him  two  or  three  times  ;  but  it's 
only  like  his  name — he's  young.  A  few  years  will  make  a 
big  difference  in  him,  sir." 

The  captain  turned  the  subject  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
then  came  back. 

"McKizick,  there's  one  of  the  midshipmen  I  wanted  to 
ask  you  about — Mr.  Smith.  Isn't  he  very  careless  and 
lubberly?" 

"  Careless  and  lubberly  !  I  can't  say  I  ever  saw  any- 
thing of  the  kind,  sir^     He  is  a  decent  young  man,  and 
works  the  fore-top  quite  to  my  mind." 
0* 


130  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

By  degrees  the  <iaptain  drew  further  encomiums,  until 
not  a  middy  in  the  ship  was  left  unpraised.  Then  he  said, 
"I  perceive  what  the  trouble  is.  The  midshipmen  are 
plenty  good  enough  individually — in  fact,  each  one  of 
them  is  a  fine  young  fellow — but  when  you  take  them  col- 
lectively they  are  of  no  assistance  to  you.  That  is  to  say, 
the  whole  is  less  than  any  one  of  its  separate  parts."  The 
captain  twinkled  his  gray  eye  at  McKizick. 

"  That's  not  fair,  captain,  I  protest — " 

"  There  are  two  things  no  midshipman  likes  to  do,  sir ; 
you  may  depend  on  it." 

"What's  that?"  ^;,•    - 

"Stand  a  watch  and  go  in  a  boat.  Send  Mr.  Robbins 
up,  McKizick,  will  you  ?  "  Merritt  was  low  on  the  com- 
manders' list  and  McKizick  high  on  that  of  lieutenants, 
which  brought  the  two  officers  closer  together  in  many 
respects  than  was  customary  between  those  in  similar 
positions. 

Hartley  made  the  most  of  his  short  time.  He  was 
at  the  Dewhurst  cottage  in  season  and  out  of  season.  He 
told  Mrs.  Dewhurst  how  soon  he  would  have  to  go,  and 
frankly  begged  her  to  stand  his  friend,  giving  him  all 
the  opportunity  to  see  Mary  she  possibly  could.  "In  a 
week  we  sail,"  he  said,  "  and  though  we  shall  return,  there's 
no  certainty  of  finding  you  here  again."  Mrs.  Dewhurst 
fenced  a  little  with  him,  but  his  earnestness  conquered  her. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  to  prevent  your  seeing  Mary 
as  often  as  you  wish,  Mr.  Hartley,  and  that  is  herself:  for 
she  may  get  the  idea  if  you  come  very  often  and  stay  long 
that  she  is  doing  wrong.  But  I  think  I  can  manage  that 
for  you." 

"  Thank  you.  I  want  to  have  all  I  can  of  her  company 
while  the  ship  stays  here.  What  a  misery  this  long  separa- 
tion is  !  "  he  added,  with  a  forlorn  air. 

"  You  must  keep  up  your  courage,  my  dear  Mr.  Hartley. 
A  day  at  a  time  it  will  all  go  by,  and  neither  of  you 
will  be  any  the  worse  for  waiting.     You  must  not  borrow 


A  STORY   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  131 

trouble  :  you  have  a  whole  week  left,  yet.  Ah,  Mr.  Hart- 
ley, you  love  my  child  very  well  in  your  way,  no  doubt, 
and  I  know  you  feel  sorry  to  part  from  her:  but  every  day 
brings  nearer  the  time  when  you  will  gain  her  and  I  shall 
lose  her.  The  less  your  trouble  gets,  the  nearer  at  hand  mine 
is."  Then  Hartley  forgot  his  dismal  anticipations  to  pity 
her  and  assure  her  that  he  meant  they  should  never  be  sep- 
arated. Which  proved  him  to  be  either  very  unselfish  or 
very  ignorant. 

So  as  the  ten  days  passed  he  stayed  with  his  beloved  all 
he  could.  Each  morning  when  he  met  her  she  was  more 
welcome  to  his  eyes  than  a  dewy  rose  ;  and,  when  he  said 
good  nighty  he  thought,  in  the  poet's  language, 

**  How  can  I  call  the  lone  night  good, 
Though  thy  sweet  wishes  wing  its  flight  ?  " 

As  his  visit  drew  near  its  close  he  began  to  worry  again 
about  his  darling's  lack  of  the  cordial  reciprocation  he 
wished.  He  had  learned  the  wisdom  of  not  being  too 
sweet,  and  she  was  loving  him  better  every  day,  and  liking 
him,  too,  for  his  good  taste ;  but  he  could  not  know  how 
much  he  was  gaining.  Her  mind  was  becoming  reconciled 
to  the  engaged  state ;  and  now  Jhat  he  withheld  his  ca- 
resses, she  bade  fair,  woman  like,  soon  to  desire  them. 

Two  nights  before  they  sailed,  he  and  Garnet  went 
over.  Garnet  to  pay  his  respects  and  Hartley  *  on  duty'  as 
his  friend  styled  it.  Mary  had  become  as  anxious  as  her 
lover  to  see  the  other  couple  take  to  each  other  kindly, 
and  she  watched  them  with  all  of  Hartley's  interest.  To 
their  mutual  disappointment.  Garnet  kept  away  from  Isa- 
bel all  evening,  devoting  himself  mainly  to  her  uncle  and 
reminiscences  of  the  late  war.  Hartley  could  have  scolded 
him  for  what  he  declared  to  Mary  was  mere  mulishness ; 
but  he  was  afraid  of  making  the  subject  unpleasant  by  say- 
ing anything  more  about  it  just  then.  His  mind  was  thor- 
oughly made  up  to  have  his  friend  happy  with  a  family, 
but  he  saw  no  means  of  working  to  that  end. 


132  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

On  that  evening  they  all  discussed  their  plans  for  future 
movements.  Mr.  Dewhurst  meant  to  wait  about  a  month 
longer  if  he  could ;  but  would  take  any  suitable  opportu- 
nity that  offered  earlier  to  go  to  the  Havana  by  the  south 
side  of  Cuba.  It  was  really  uncertain  whether  they  would 
wait  two  weeks  longer  or  six.  Captain  Merritt  had  told 
his  officers  to  stock  their  messes  for  about  a  month,  as 
he  intended  to  return  to  Santa  Cruz  within  that  time. 

The  next  evening  was  the  last  one  together,  and  the 
lovers  spent  it  all  by  themselves,  and  made  it  long.  Hart- 
ley was  sad  at  going  away  from  M^ry,  for  such  an  indefi- 
nite time,  and  very  anxious  to  get  a  fuller,  freer  expression 
of  love  from  her  before  he  went.  She  was  sad  because  he 
■was,  and  also  because  she  was  about  to  lose  sight  of  a  per- 
son who  had  become  pleasant,  almost  necessary,  to  her. 
She  really  wished  to  speak  out  and  make  him  happy,  but 
the  old  influences  of  doubt,  maiden  modesty,  and  maiden 
perversity,  made  it  impossible  for  her  to  bestow  the  part- 
ing cheer  she  would  have  given. 

Once  during  the  evening,  pondering  upon  the  "  cease- 
less farewell-taking,  endless  parting,"  incident  to  a  sea- 
man's life,  he  got  very  blue  and  very  tired  of  the  service. 
Mary  had  never  looked  ^o  attractive  and  lovable,  as  now 
that  he  was  about  to  leave  her.  He  thought  it  would  be 
happiness  to  remain  forever  with  her,  if  he  could  forever 
feel  her  round  arms  about  his  neck,  and  her  wavy  hair 
brush  his  face,  and  see  her  rich  blue  eyes  closely  beaming 
into  his,  and  hear  her  voice  speak  to  him,  low  and  loving. 
Then  he  grew  very  bitter,  and  the  Navy  appeared  to  him  a 
cruel,  unnatural,  wicked  life.  But  he  soon  remembered 
that  he  was  a  man,  and  had  no  right  to  yield  to  so  small  an 
ill  :  he  remembered  duty,  too,  and  his  sense  of  honor  made 
him  hold  up  his  head  and  take  a  more  manly  view  of  the 
situation.  After  awhile  he  was  almost  cheerful  again,  and 
he  succeeded  in  making  the  farewell  almost  not  unpleasant 
to  Mary.  She  returned  his  good-by  kiss  very  cordially. 
It  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  kissed  him  back,  and  it 


A   STOKY   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  133 

thrilled  him.  He  almost  embraced  her,  obedient  to  his  im- 
pulse, but  managed  somehow  to  restrain  himself,  and  in  a 
second  more  he  had  gone  away  into  the  darkness. 

Mary  went  to  bed  to  lie  awake  a  long  time  and  think 
about  him.  She  knew  as  soon  as  he  was  gone  that  she 
cared  a  great  deal  for  him. 

When  the  Flying  Fish  sailed  out  next  day  with  a  lead- 
ing wind,  she  passed  near  the  palm-crowned  light-house 
point.  Hartley  saw,  from  his  station  on  the  spar-deck,  a 
gentleman  standing  with  three  ladies  near  a  carriage  on 
the  beach.  The  ship  swept  by  near  enough  for  him  to  dis- 
tinguish that  they  were  the  Dewhursts  come  down  to  see 
them  off.  Out  waved  his  handkerchief  in  defiance  of  all 
rules  of  naval  etiquette.  Evidently  his  number  was  rec- 
ognized, for  there  was  a  quick  reply,  all  three  ladies  show- 
ing their  white  answering  pendants.  Garnet  joined  Hart- 
ley on  the  booms,  and  Hartley  insisted  on  his  waving,  also. 
They  passed  by  rapidly.  Mrs.  Dewhurst  helped  his  wife  in 
the  carriage  and  got  in  himself,  but  the  two  young  ladies 
walked  on  down  the  beach  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  point. 
Hartley  found  himself  well  aft — as  far  aft  as  possible  to 
get — actually  leaning  over  the  taffrail.  He  and  Mary  were 
keeping  as  near  together  as  the  circumstances  permitted, 
but*the  strip  of  water  between  them  fast  grew  wider.  As 
long  as  he  could  see,  Mary  reriiained  down  at  the  end  of  the 
point ;  or  he  thought  so,  which  was  much  the  same  thing. 
Garnet  came  along  after  awhile. 

**  Hal,  in  old  Virginny  when  they  think  a  woman  about 
perfect  they  call  her  a  *  far  speck.'  I  suppose  you  think 
just  now  your  Miss  Mary  is  a  *  far  speck.'     So  do  I." 

"  It's  no  time  to  punish  me  now,"  answered  Hartley 
ruefully. 

"Do  you  recollect  my  prophecy  about  the  palm-tree 
and  the  light-house  ?  " 

"Yes,  Will." 

"  My  fee  is  five  dollars."    At  Hartley's  blank  lool^  he 


134  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

went  on :  "  My  fee  for  a  correct  prophecy  of  the  fifth  class 
is  always  five  dollars." 

"Well,"  answered  Hartley,  "Go  thou  and  do  like- 
wise.    My  fee  for  correct  advice  is  ten  dollars."    * 

"Your  advice  is  correct.  I'd  like  to  know  that  Miss 
Terrell— or  some  other  girl  as  good — was  thinking  about 
me  as  your  Miss  Mary  is  about  you." 


CHAPTER  XH. 


T 


HE  Flying  Fish  dashed  gayly  through  the  waters  to  the 
westward. 

**  Cloudy  shapes  and  fears  forlorn 
Flew,  like  shadows  at  the  mom," 


away  from  Hartley's  mind  in  his  ever-present  pressure 
of  work  and  his  welcome  of  the  sea.  He  really  loved  the 
sea,  and  it  would  cost  him  something  to  give  it  up  as  a  fol- 
lowing. 

By  the  way,  patient  reader,  did  the  quaintness  and 
poetry  in  calling  a  sailor  a  *  follower  of  the  sea '  ever  strike 
you  ?    If  not,  think  about  it  now. 

When  they  sailed.  Captain  Merritt  sent  for  Dukrge 
and  thus  addressed  hira  : 

"Mr.  Dularge,  have  you  the  chronometers  rated  ?"    ' 

The  unhappy  fellow  had  several  rates  in  his  note-book, 
but  was  not  sure  which  was  right,  or,  in  truth,  that  any 
was  ;  but  he  answered  : 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  What  is  it  for  the  working  instrument  ?  " 

Dularge  took  his  book  out  of  his  pocket,  and  after  some 
delay  made  a  selection.  "  Error,  slow,  12m.  7s.  j  rate,  l^s. 
gaining,"  he  read. 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  the  captain. 

^**  Oh,  I  believe  I  read  the  wrong  figures,"  said  Dularge 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  135 

feebly.  Here  it  is,  sir.  Error,  slow,  9m.  37s. ;  rate,  3s. 
gaining." 

"  That's  a  little  nearer,  but  still  very  far  wrong,"  re- 
marked the  captain. 

"  Perhaps,  sir,  this  result  is  right.     Error,  fast — " 

"Never  mind,  Mr.  Dularge,"  interrupted  Captain 
Merritt.  "  Tell  me  so  and  so,"  putting  a  question  in  navi- 
gation. 

Dularge  made  a  very  lame  reply. 

The  captain  continued  his  impromptu  examination,  get- 
ting very  little  evidence  of  knowledge  out  of  the  master, 
until  at  last  he  asked,  "  What  is  a  fore  observation,  sir  ?  " 

"  That's  when  you  work  out  the  altitude  before  going 
on  deck,  sir." 

*'  That's  enough.     Have  you  ever  done  any  deck  duty  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir :  I  had  a  watch  over  a  year  in  the  Consti- 
tution." 

"Very  well.  I  will  relieve  you  as  navigator  of  the 
ship  myself,  and  you  may  take  a  watch  for  the  present. 
Considering  your  past  opportunities  your  ignorance  is 
inexcusable.  I  advise  you  to  study  and  practice  navigation." 
Captain  Merritt  sent  for  Garnet,  and  desired  him  to  assist 
Mr.  Dularge  in  acquiring  the  useful  art  recommended. 

The  wind  hauled  to  the  west  and  blew  a  steady  soft 
breeze.  After  working  up  against  it  for'  two  days,  during 
which  the  sloop  made  little  on  her  course,  they  got  news  of 
the  vessel  they  were  seeking.  A  sail  appeared  to  windward 
and  stood  down  toward  them,  the  Fish  making  short  tacks 
to  intercept  her.  She  came  booming  down,  wing  and  wing, 
with  a  great  roll  of  creamy  foam  under  her  bows.  When 
about  half  a  mile  distant,  the  sloop  fired  a  gun,  went  about 
and  stood  across  her  track.  The  schooner  hove  to  imme- 
diately at  the  signal,  and  the  cruiser,  ranging  up  within 
hailing  distance,  backed  her  main-yard.  Captain  Merritt 
directed  the  first  lieutenant  to  have  a  boat  manned,  and 
to  hail  the  stranger.  The  cutter  was  called  away,  and 
McKizick  took  the  trumpet. 


136  LOTE   AFLOAT. 

"  Schooner  ahoy  ! " 

"  Hello  ! "  was  the  frank  reply  from  a  person  in  a 
red  shirt,  who  seemed  to  be  the  captain. 

"What  schooner  is  that  ?  " 

"  The  Mariner,  of  Great  Egg  Harbor." 

**  Whence  come  you?" 

«  The  Spanish  Main." 

"  Where  are  you  bound  ?  " 

"  To  Philadelphia.     What  ship  is  that  ?  " 

"  Unitt  >  States  sloop  Flying  Fish,  on  a  cruise.  We'll 
send  a  boatj  aboard  you." 

Directly  a  midshipman  was  despatched  in  the  cutter, 
with  directions  to  request  the  master  of  the  Mariner  to 
come  on  board ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  boat  returned 
with  that  worthy,  who  had  finished  his  toilet  by  putting 
on  a  greasy  black  swallow-tailed  coat  over  his  shirt.  He 
wore  a  unique  and  unshaven  aspect. 

"  Tidy  little  boat  o*  your'n,  skipper,"  he  remarked  with 
gracious  ease  to  McKizick,  who  met  him  at  the  gangway ; 
"  shouldn't  mind  givin'  you  a  race  with  my  craft  in  a  good 
breeze." 

"  The  captain  is  aft,  sir  :  be  so  good  as  to  step  this 
way,"  growled  the  incensed  lieutenant  in  reply. 

From  the  oily  individual,  who  introduced  himself  as 
"  Captain  Haggai  M.  Kites,"  they  learned  that  the  Mari- 
ner, two  days  before,  while  beating  to  windward  along  the 
south  coast,  had  been  overhauled  by  a  sort  o'  man-o'-war 
lookin'  craft : "  that,  suspecting  all  was  not  safe,  they  had 
cracked  on  sail,  but  were  unable  to  get  away  owing  to  the 
fact  that  there  were  two  barrels  of  pickled  pork  in  the  peak 
which  by  rights  should  have  been  stowed  in  the  cabin ;  that 
the  stranger  had  fired  a  shot  at  the  Mariner,  which  passed 
through  the  foresail  and  accounted  for  its  present  ragged 
condition,  upon  which  the  Mariner  had  hove  to :  that  a 
"  Yankee  lookin'  feller "  had  come  aboard  with  an  armed 
boat's  crew,  inquired  very  particularly  about  his  cargo 
and  what  vessels  he  had  seen,  gotten  what  newspapers  they 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  137 

had,  jumped  into  his  boat  and  left  "  without  tellin'  his  ves- 
sel's name  nor  nothin';"  that  the  boat  was  hoisted  in  a 
jiffy,  the  strange  schooner's  helm  was  put  up,  and  she  stood 
on  toward  the  land  and  was  "  hull  down  in  no  time  at  all." 
"  But  I  had  my  glass  out,  and  as  she  bore  up  I  saw  her 
name  quite  plain  on  the  stern  in  gold  letters,  La  Hem- 
brilyer,  which  I  take  it  is  Spanish  for  little  woman  and 
worse.  Well,  we  pitched  right  in  and  got  the  pork  out  of 
the  peak  inter  the  cabin,  and  I'd  like  to  see  the  craft  in 
these  waters  could  hold  her  own  with  us  now."  Captain 
Merritt  got  the  date  and  position  of  the  encountei,  thanked 
the. unctuous  Kites,  gave  him  a  glass  of  wine  and  a  news- 
paper, and  sent  him  back  to  his  swift,  beloved  Mariner. 
The  sloop  filled  away,  trimmed  her  yards,  and  stood  off  on 
the  long  leg. 

Garnet  was  thinking  about  Isabel  in  his  leisure  moments. 
He  had  about  concluded  that  as  a  matter  of  policy  it  would 
be  well  to  follow  his  friend's  advice,  and  though  not  yet 
determined  to  do  so,  had  begun  to  reflect  upon  the  means 
of  carrying  out  that  cheerful  programme  of  affection,  com- 
panionship, children,  and  a  home.  He  was  satisfied  from 
what  he  knew  of  Miss  Terrell  that  she  could  not  be  w^on 
by  a  careless  wooer  lacking  in  respect,  and  under  disrespect 
he  classed  his  fault,  well  known  to  himself,  of  inattention 
to  dress.  He  thought  that  if  the  time  came  to  pay  his  ad- 
dresses to  Isabel  or  some  other  lady,  he  would  begin  with 
a  superficial  change  in  his  ways,  at  least,  by  presenting  his 
outer  man  adorned  and  not  disfigured.  In  other  words,  he 
would  reform  his  dress ;  but  being  ignorant,  from  long 
carelessness,  of  what  good  dressing  was,  he  thought  best  to 
consult  Hartley,  the  ship's  authority.  They  were  sitting 
by  the  bridle-port  rea^ng,  with  Dularge  a  little  way  off, 
when  Garnet  took  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth,  closed  his  book, 
and  remarked,  "  Hal,  I  am  going  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf." 
"So  am  I:  but  you  needn't  shut  the  book  first." 
"  The  book  has  been  open  too  long  at  one  place.  I'm 
tired  of  it,  and  mean  to  try  a  fresh  one." 


138  LTOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Well,  what's  over  the  leaf,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  A  brand-new  suit  of  shore  clothes  in  the  latest  fashion. 
I'm  going  to  try  to  appear  decent,  hereafter." 

Dularge,  who  had  overheard,  approached  eagerly  and 
officiously.  "  I  would,  by  all  means,"  said  he.  "  It  will  be 
a  great  deal  more  satisfactory  to  you,  and  I  always  find  it 
actually  cheaper." 

The  assurance  of  the  speech  and  its  conceited  assump- 
tion were  too  much  for  Garnet.  He  turned  toward  Dularge 
with  feigned  surprise  and  exclaimed,  "  Why  !  do  you  dress 
well  ?  " 

"  I  try  to,"  stammered  out  the  creature,  looking  foolish. 

"  Take  comfort  then,  Dularge,"  said  Hartley ;  "  some 
wise  fellow  says  that  *  where  endeavors  do  not  yet  fully 
avail  they  tell  as  tendency.'  " 

Dularge  went  away,  but  Garnet  followed  his  second 
thought  that  it  would  be  better  to  get  information  by  imita- 
tion than  by  advice.. 

There  was  not  much  of  the  convivial  spirit  in  the  ward- 
room. They  all  drank  when  they  wished,  in  accordance 
with  the  easy  cake-and-ale  virtue  of  the  day,  easier  afloat 
than  ashore.  From  the  captain  and  dignified  little  Doctor 
Bobus  down  to  the  boys,  hardly  a  person  passed  a  day 
without  tasting  alcohol  in  some  form;  but  there  was  noth- 
ing to  show  it  except  the  red  nose  of  the  marine  officer. 
The  men's  drinking  could  not  exceed  the  regulation  gill  of 
whiskey.  The  officers  took  their  two  or  three  glasses 
of  wine  at  dinner ;  and  other  liquor  according  to  taste,  and 
though  any  one  who  chose  might  get  merry  on  occa- 
sion, no  one  remarked  it  so  long  as  the  regular  course  of 
duty  was  unbroken.  Even  to  the  midshipmen  a  license  was 
permitted  which  would  be  thought  sinful  in  these  days 
with  nothing  stronger  than  sherry  allowed  on  board  ship. 

The  ward-room  officers  lacked  the  convivial,  or,  more 
properly  speaking,  the  carousing  spirit,  and  were  conse- 
quently a  quiet,  well-behaved  set  of  men.  Even  on  Sat- 
urday night,  the  weekly  time-honored  festival  of  "  sweet- 


A   STOET  OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY  139 

hearts  and  wives"  was  observed  in  a  single  glass.  We 
know  that  Hartley  never  forgot  it,  or  dishonored  the  toast 
with  a  heel-tap  at  this  time ;  and  Garnet,  too,  began  to 
relish  it  somewhat. 

"  Sweet-hearts  and  wives  ! "  that  tells  the  whole  story. 
The  sweet-heart  is  always  before  the  wife.  She  naturally 
happens  first,  but  why  is  she  the  most  esteemed  ?  Is  man  an 
unworthy  animal  who  finds  more  joy  in  the  pursuit  than  in 
a  long  possession  which  gives  him  the  chance  to  appreciate 
and  rationally  to  enjoy,  the  only  chance  to  truly  love  ?  or 
is  it  that  woman  strives  harder  to  please  and  satisfy  in  her 
first  capacity  than  in  her  last  ?  Either  way,  there  is  in  the 
old  sentiment  no  compliment  to  the  ladies. 

If  the  ward-room  was  somewhat  unmindful  of  the  an- 
cient ceremony,  it  was  not  on  that  account  neglected  in 
the  budding  steerage.  There  each  recurring  Saturday 
evening  brought  a  new  celebration,  and  there  were  liba- 
tions copiously  poured  in  to  the  honor  of  Venus  whenever 
liquor  was  in  the  locker.  Songs  and  stories  filled  up  the 
intervals  between  the  toasts. 

On  the  Saturday  evening  following  the  departure  of  the 
Fish  from  Santa  Cruz  the  usual  festivities  were  heightened. 
The  week  before,  the  occasion  had  been  slighted  because 
several  membei's  of  the  mess  were  on  shore  and  the  hearts 
of  the  rest  were  with  them ;  and  the  week  preceding  that, 
the  observation  of  the  rites  had  been  feeble,  for  all  were 
fatigued  by  the  incessant  work  their  captain's  activity  de- 
manded. There  was  at  this  time,  therefore,  a  disposition 
to  atone  for  past  failings,  as  a  man  who  has  dodged  his 
church  attendance  for  several  Sundays  tries  to  make  it 
up  at  last  by  extra  devotion. 

After  eight  bells  the  midshipmen  were  all  gathered  in 
the  steerage,  except  those  on  watch.  Two  good-sized  bot- 
tles of  whiskey,  the  result  of  their  savings  from  the  daily 
grog  ration,  were  on  the  table,  backed  up  by  sundry  tum- 
blers and  lemons,  a  pitcher  of  water,  and  a  bowl  of  sugar. 
The   party   were,  talking   and  watching  their  senior,  Mr. 


140  •  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Larkin,  an  old  midshipman,  who  in  virtue  of  his  experience 
always  attended  to  collecting  the  whiskey  rations  and  mix- 
ing the  grog.  He  was  very  busy  brewing  a  cold  whiskey 
punch,  and  paid  no  attention  to  the  many  suggestions 
of  his  interested  messmates. 

Mr.  Larkin  was  a  smart  young  man,  who  had  been  two 
cruises  at  sea  already,  and  was  expecting  his  promotion. 
He  was  now  old  enough  to  begin  thinking,  and  he  did 
a  moderate  amount  of  study  and  attended  very  well  to  his 
duty;  but  there  was  still  enough  boy  in  him  to  lead  him 
into  an  occasional  scrape. 

Mr.  Smith,  as  his  name  would  indicate,  was  young  Smith. 

Mr.  Godolphin  was  a  stout,  rosy-faced  boy,  who  had 
a  great  facility  for  catching  cold.  When  affected,  he  went 
about  wheezing,  which  af&iction  at  once  drew  attention  to 
his  name.  His  fellow-mids  called  him  "Go-porpoise,"  an 
appellation  soon  shortened  to  "  Go-porp,"  and  then  to 
plain  "  Porp." 

The  other  midshipmen  were  Mumson,  Young,  Robinson, 
Maskelyne,  and  Carter,  the  last  two  being  at  this  particu- 
lar time  on  duty.  They  were  a  set  of  bright,  mischievous 
lads,  full  of  promise. 

The  five  were  watching  Larkin  make  the  punch,  criti- 
cising and  suggesting  boisterously,  when  in  came  Messrs. 
Thick  and  Harrison.  Both  were  favorites  with  the  young- 
sters. Harrison  for  a  sort  of  dry  geniality  and  for  never 
setting  himself  and  his  experiences  up  as  an  example,  Thick 
for  his  peculiarities.  The  boatswain  looked  queer,  and  on 
close  acquaintance  his  character  well  sustained  his  appear- 
ance. He  was  short  in  stature  though  mighty  in  strength, 
his  face  was  deeply  pock-marked,  his  complexion  was  a 
dark  natnral-leaf,  and  his  little  eyes  were  bright  and  black 
and  snapping.  Like  Shakespeare's  soldier,  he  was  full  of 
strange  oaths.  His  life  had  been  greatly  varied,  and  he 
was  able  to  recall  the  past  in  such  an -extensive  and  inter- 
esting manner  as  to  win  the  admiration  of  the  young  fel- 
lows with  whom  his  position  almost  forced  him  to  associate. 


A   STORT   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  141 

Though  Mr.  Thick  had  little  choice  of  company,  he 
never  felt  that  it  was  more  than  right  for  him  to  be  thrown 
on  the  midshipmen.  He  was  used  to  it;  it  was  customary 
in  the  service  ;  and  perhaps  their  life  and  sportfulness  had 
become  preferable  in  his  esteem  to  the  sedateness  of  more 
settled  minds.  He  certainly  enjoyed  the  ascendency  which 
his  peculiarities,  his  knowledge  of  the  profession,  his  large 
experience,  his  toleration,  and  his  yarns,  gave  him  over  the 
turbulent  steerage.  • 

Navy  life  is  the  strangest  in  the  world,  though  looked 
at  from  outside  it  appears  simple.  Shut  several  hundred 
men  up  in  a  vessel,  have  some  in  authority  with  a  rigid 
organization  over  all,  and  send  them  abroad  for  three 
years.  The  men  become  proficient  in  the  use  of  the  sails 
and  the  weapons,  the  officers  are  skilled  and  watchful,  the 
ship  goes  from  port  to  port  ready  to  protect  American 
commerce,  prepared  to  fight  if  necessary,  opening  new 
lands  to  trade,  and  getting  together  knowledge  useful  to 
the  world.  All  goes  as  it  should  until  she  returns,  when 
the  crew  are  dismissed  and  the  officers  separated  among 
other  vessels.  That  is  about  the  popular  notion,  but  it  is 
not  enough.  A  thinking  man  who  has  seen  it  all  looks 
back  upon  a  great  deal  more.  He  remembers  the  parting 
with  family  and  friends,  the  straining  into  futurity  with 
hope  and  fear  of  its  events  ;  the  fierce  passions,  the  good- 
ness, the  care,  the  carelessness,  the  expectancy  of  youth, 
the  material  certainty  of  age,  the  myriad  possibilities, 
which  the  ship  bears  away.  He  remembers  sickness  with- 
out consolation;  anxiety  for  loved  ones;  weary  labor; 
wearing  responsibility  ;  long  watches  in  the  day  and  the 
night,  in  gales  and  calms,  in  cold  and  wet  and  under  blaz-, 
ing  suns ;  fighting  with  storms  ;  monotonous  routine  ;  the 
strangeness  of  foreign  lands ;  beguilements  of  cards  and 
wine  and  women  with  song  and  dance  ;  perhaps  the  fierce 
zest  of  battle.  The  romance  is  not  gone  yet  and  cannot 
ever  go  ;  but  there  must  be  always  mingled  with  it  a  great 
deal  of  downright  hard  work. 


14:2  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

In  no  regard  is  navy  life  more  peculiar  than  in  its 
social  aspect.  With  a  despotic  government,  its  society  is 
democratic.  There  is  no  aristocracy  of  money,  for  few  offi- 
cers have  any ;  little  respect  off  duty  to  mere  rank,  and 
almost  no  advantage  in  being  old.  Age  brings  wisdom 
sometimes,  and  when  the  two  are  found  together  they  ob- 
tain a  hearing.  They  are  all  mingled,  young  and  old 
together,  in  social  equality.  Every  man  is  respected  for 
the  ability  he  shows,  but  this  includes  his  quality  as  an 
officer  and  as  a  gentleman,  also.  In  plain  words,  every 
tub  stands  on  its  own  bottom.  The  effect  of  the  commin- 
gling of  ages  is  marked.  It  makes  the  young  man  mature 
early,  and  it  keeps  the  old  boy  fresh  and  lively.  When  a 
youngster  finds  himself  among  men,  with  a  man's  part  ex- 
pected of  him,  he  naturally  tries  to  learn.  He  puts  on  the 
outward  appearance,  and,  if  there  be  any  good  stuff  in  him, 
shortly  becomes  what  he  seems. 

Mr.  Thick's  first  act  on  entering  the  steerage  was  to 
turn  to  the  dresser,  pick  up  the  coffee-pot  which  sat  thereon, 
and  asking,  "  Anything  in  your  pot.  Jack  ? "  to  put  the 
spout  in  his  mouth  and  throw  back  his  head.  No  cold  cof- 
fee rewarded  him — the  pot  was  empty.  He  set  it  down 
again  disappointed. 

"  Never  mind.  Sweet  William,"  said  Larkin  ;  "  here's 
better  stuff  than  that.     Sit  down." 

The  others  greeted  him  tumultuously.  "  Come  in  ! " 
"  Welcome,  Sweet  William  !  "  "  Ah  !  look  at  his  purty 
face,  the  darlint  ! "  "  The  heel  o'  the  afthernoon  to  yez !  " 
Thick,  in  no  wise  disconcerted,  took  a  seat. 

"  We  were  just  going  to  ask  you  and  Harrison  to  help 
us  keep  Saturday  night,"  said  Larkin.  "  Why,  there  he  is 
at  the  door.     Come  in,  Bob,  and  help  us  with  some  punch." 

Harrison  "  was  just  coming  "  anyhow,  and  he  entered 
amid  shouts  of  "Hail,  Bob!"  "Dry  Bob,  ahoy!" 
"Welcome,  Idle  Bob  1" 

Larkin  struck  up  in  a  sweet  voice  an  impromptu  song. 


A  STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN  NAVT.  143 

"  Oh,  I  know  a  likely  chap. 
And  wherever  he  may  go. 
If  he's  not  two  blocks  and  rap- 
Full,  liquor's  out,  you  know. 
He's  a  figure  fine,  and  fame. 

And  a  peaceful  smiling  nob— 
.Did  some  fellow  ask  his  name  ? 
Bry  Bob  !  " 

The  steerage  rang  with  the  applause  and  laughter  of  the 
mids,  who  had  joined  in  the  two  last  words  tremendously. 
•   **  You  do  me  proud,"  said  Harrison,  when  the  noise  had 
subsided  ;  "I'm  afraid  that  punch  11  be  like   the  Injin's 
pork." 

"  How  ?  "  asked  several. 

"  It  *  lasted  dam  quick '  you  know." 

"  I  wish  our  pork  would,  too,"  remarked  Godolphin ; 
"  Larkin  gives  nothing  else,  it  seems  to  me." 

"  Shut  up,  Porp,"  cried  Young  ;  "  you  think  more  of 
eating  than  anything  else." 

"  Keep  his  glass  full  and  he  '11  say  no  more  to-night," 
put  in  Munson. 

"  I  tell  you  what,  Mr.  Porp,"  said  Thick ;  "  it's  a  pity  I 
never  know'd  it  in  time,  but  you  might  just  as  well  'a  had 
fresh  meat  as  not." 

"  Why  ?  how  ?  "  asked  Porp,  regretfully. 

"  Our  boss  is  dead,"  replied  Thick  briefly. 
•  The  middies  groaned  deeply  at  this  announcement,  and 
for  a  moment  there  was  a  sad  silence,  while  one  or  two  pre- 
tended to  cry  and  wipe  their  eyes.  Then  they  broke  out. 
"How  did  he  die,  doctor?"  "I  shall  employ  another 
medical  man  next  time,  sir."  "  Poor,  faithful  servant ! " 
"  Did  he  go  off  easy.  Doc  ?  " 

Thick  spoke  sententiously.  "  He  was  drownded  that 
same  night.  The  rain  filled  the  holler,  and  that  done  it. 
He  bilged  under  the  bridge,  where  he  got  washed  down. 
I  made  a  mistake  lashin'  his  spars  together,  for  of  course 
he  couldn't  get  under  way  on  one  leg,  and  that  sprung." 


144  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Godolphin  slowly  persisted.  *'I  don't  see  what  that  has 
to  do  with  fresh  meat." 

"  If  you'd  a-seen  as  many  hoss-shoes  <;ome  o'  beef  barrels 
as  I  have,  Mr.  Porp,  you  might  believe  it  as  much  as  I  do." 

"  Bless  my  soul  !  "  exclaimed  the  alarmed  youth. 

"  With  pork  it  is  different.  Hogs  is  not  shod,"  contin- 
ued Thick. 

"  I  see,"  admitted  Godolphin.  They  all  had  a  good- 
natured  laugh  at  him,  but  he  insisted :  "  I  don't  think  our 
grub  is  good  enough. 

"  Dry  up,  Porp  !  "  shouted  Munson.  "  You'd  growl  if 
you  had  cracker  pudden  every  day." 

"  No,  I  wouldn't,"  denied  Godolphin.  "  It's  all  very 
well  for  you  fellows  that  went  ashore  so  much  and  got 
all  you  wanted  to  eat,  but  I  was  quarantined  after  the 
first  time  we  went." 

"  What  for,  Porp  ?  "  asked  the  gunner. 

"  Oh,  I  had  a  sheet  in  the  lucky  bag.  My  hammock  boy 
dropped  it  out.  I  declare  it  was  too  bad  of  McKizick,"  he 
continued,  lowering  his  voice.  "I  never  went  to  claim 
the  sheet,  but  when  they  overhauled  the  bag  in  Santa 
Cruz,  McKizick  saw  my  name  in  the  corner,  and  quaran- 
tined me." 

"  Let  this  be  a  warning  to  you,  son  Porp,"  said  Larkin, 
stopping  his  work.  "  Better  have  three  sheets  in  the  wind 
than  one  in  the  lucky  bag.  Gentlemen,  the  punch  is  made. 
Approach  and  fill  your  glasses."  This  was  done  in  rever- 
ent silence,  for  they  all  respected  Larkin's  punch.  "  Gen- 
tlemen !  "  he  continued,  in  a  speech-making  tone,  "  I  give 
you  the  toast  of  the  evening,  to  be  drunk  in  silence, 
standing — " 

"Hope  none  of  us  will  be  drunk  in  silence,  lying," 
chirped  Young. 

*'  Be  silent,  sitting,  Mr,  Young,"  said  Larkin  reproach- 
ftiUy.  "The  toast  of  the  evening,  gentlemen.  We  are 
hard-working  sailors,  in  the  service  of  our  country.  We 
are  not  unwilling,  though  we  get  more  knocks  than  glory. 


A    STOUT    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  145 

Pay  is  small  and  promotion  is  slow ;  but  we  can  all  feel 
bright  when  we  think  of  the  future  and  of  lovely  woman. 
Back  yonder  in  the  land  we  love,  await  us  those  we  love — 
*  Sweet-hearts  and  Wives  / ' "  . 

It  was  drunk  in  silence,  but  in  a  minute  they  all  broke 
out  into  applause  at  Larkin's  speech. 

*'  Fill  up,  fellows,  and  IHl  give  you  a  toast !  "  cried 
Robinson.  "The  health  of  our  distinguished  messmate, 
Mr.  Larkin.  May  his  promotion  come  soon,  anyhow." 
The  liquor  went  down  with  a  hearty  good-will,  and  Lar- 
kin arose  to  reply. 

"  Speech !  speech  !  "  called  everybody. 
*'  My  friends,  I  am  honored  by  this  mark  of  your  esteem," 
began  the  orator,  in  a  serious  funny  way.  "  I  am  unaccus- 
tomed to  public  speaking,  and  stand  before  you  alike  sur- 
prised and  unprepared.  Under  these  circumstances  you 
will  pardon  me " — he  paused  impressively  and  looked 
around — "  if  I  sit  down  instead  of  standing  up,  and  tell  you 
a  story  about  a  Dutchwoman." 

"Yes!"  "Sit  down!"  "Story!"  "Give  us  the 
Dutchman !  "  shouted  the  chorus.  "  Well,"  said  he  resum- 
ing his  campstool ;  "  you  had  better  all  get  a  drop  of  the 
cratur  in  your  glasses  before  I  begin. 

"When  I  go  on  leave  I  have  to  take  a  stage-coach  and 
travel  a  hundred  miles,  part  of  it  over  one  of  the  meanest, 
roughest  roads  in  the  world.  It  takes  twenty-four  hours, 
night  and  day  work,  enough  to  try  the  patience  of  a  fisher- 
man. You  pitch,  and  roll,  and  get  bumped,  till  you're  so 
sore  you  feel  like  a  big  travelling  boil.  Then  the  eating 
along  the  road ! — it  would  kill  Porp  to  make  one  trip. 
The  farmers  try  to  give  you  as  little  and  mean  as  they  can 
for  a  shilling. 

"  When  I  got  to  Lancaster  I  took  good  pains  to  be  on 
hand  at  the  stage  office  early,  for  I  wanted  an  end  seat. 
The  middle  seat  has  no  back  but  a  leather  strap,  worse 
than  nothing  would  be.  You  keep  trying  to  lean  on  it, 
and  so  does  the  other  man  ;  and  when  he  jolts  forward  it 
7 


14:6  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

slacks  up  and  you  fall  back,  and  when  he  jolts  back  it 
tautens  out  like  a  span  and  shoots  you  forward. 

"  I  got  there  in  good  time,  but  somebody  was  ahead  of 
me.  I  paid  for  my  passage,  got  my  trunk  put  on,  and 
jumped  in,  resolved  to  stick  to  my  seat  in  spite  of  anything 
short  of  a  woman  in  distress — we  always  have  to  break  out 
for  them,  you  know.  I  believe  Porp  there  would  give  up 
a  chicken  pie  to  save  a  woman  from  starvation.  When 
I  got  in  there  was  a  Dutchman  and  his  wife — I  mean  a 
Dutchwoman  and  her  husband — on  the  back  seat.  By 
Jupiter  !  I  found  it  was  me  and  my  old  man  before  I  got 
home.  The  next  two  passengers  that  came  were  very 
reasonable  sized  men.  One  of  them  sat  with  me  and  the 
other  took  the  strap. 

"  It  was  almost  time  to  start — about  one  bell  in  the 
first  dog-watch,  and  I  was  just  feeling  good  that  we  weren't 
going  to  be  crowded,  when  along  came  two  great  big  fat 
fellows — enormous  chaps — carrying  a  trunk  and  blowing 
like — Porps.  The  fellow  on  the  middle  seat  saw  them, 
too.  '  Jerusalem  cricket ! '  said  he,  and  he  slipped  over  along- 
side me.  Three  on  a  seat  is  a  pretty  close  fit  ;  but  I 
couldn't  help  it,  and  said  nothing.  The  fat  men  got 
their  trunk  put  up,  and  then  they  surrounded  the  coach. 
One  came  to  the  starboard  door,  one  to  the  larboard.  By 
the  Hokum,  as  the  bosen  says,  it  was  a  tight  match  for'  em 
to  get  through  the  doors.  They  squeezed  in  though,  and 
settled  down  surprisingly  quick.  All  this  time  they 
had'nt  said  a  word,  and  when  they  got  their  seats  they 
just  sat  still  and  stared  at  us  like  fishes,  with  never  so  much 
as  a  wink. 

"The  Dutchwoman  and  her  husband  had  been  still, 
too;  but  when  we  got  under  way  she  began  to  make  up  for 
lost  time.  It  was  '  John '  this  and  *  John '  that,  *  John, 
you  preak  dat  glock ' — ^he  had  a  wooden  clock  in  his  lap — 
and  'John,  you  growds  me.*  'John'  one  thing  or  another 
till  I  was  sick  of  her.     However,  she  quieted  down  after 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  147 

awhile  and  went  to  sleep.  I  wished  I  could  sleep.  I  was 
crushed  as  flat  as  a  flounder. 

"  The  road  for  the  first  sixty  miles  was  pretty  level, 
and  we  didn't  bump  much,  but  I  wondered  how  the  old 
lady  managed  so  much  better  than  the  rest  of  us.  About 
two  o'clock  the  moon  went  down,  and  the  driver  stopped  to 
light  the  lamps.  One  of  them  shone  into  the  stage  a  min- 
ute, and  I  saw  how  the  old  lady  was  stowed.  She  had  got 
up  on  the  seat,  and  braced  her  knees  against  the  side  of 
the  coach,  and  was  lying  back  on  the  old  man.  There 
he  sat,  one  arm  around  his  wife,  the  other  holding  the 
clock,  bolt  upright  in  the  corner,  wide  awake  and  the 
picture  of  misery." 

"  Patience  on  the  lee  cat-head,  smiling  at  a  wet  swab," 
put  in  Thick. 

*'  Precisely.     Fill  your  glass,  Mr.  Thick." 

"  When  the  light  shone  in,  it  woke  the  Dutchwoman  up. 
*  John,'  said  she,  *  make  dat  driver  take  dat  light  out  my 
eye.'  John  didn't  say  a  word.  We  went  ahead  again  di- 
rectly, and  I  believe  I  slept  a  little,  for  the  next  I  knew  it  was 
broad  daylight  and.  the  sun  was  shining,  and  I  was  chilled 
through  and  so  stiff"  you  couldn't  have  bent  me  without 
breaking  me.  There  sat  the  two  fat  men,  staring  at  me 
like  fishes  still,  and  there  was  the  poor  Dutchman,  look- 
ing ten  years  older,  and  there  sat  his  wife,  as  fresh  as  Lake 
Erie.  *  John,'  says  she,  *  I  pleeve  you  grack  mein  glock.' 
*Nein,'  says  he.  *  Yah,  you  grack  dat  glock  mein  mutter 
gif  me  fife  year.'  And  she  went  on  and  abused  John,  and 
fussed  and  scolded  till  I  felt  like  kicking  her  out.  When 
she  looked  at  the  clock  there  wasn't  anything  the  matter 
with  it  after  all. 

"  The  road  was  a  little  rough  by  this  time,  but  we  did 
pretty  well.  The  fat  men  were  too  heavy  to  surge  much, 
though  the  Dutchwoman  began  to  look  uneasy  about  some- 
thing. However,  we  did  very  well  till  we  stopped,  and 
got  breakfast,  and  set  off*  again.     Then  the  road  was  awful. 

"The  fat  men  commenced  to  bob  about  tremendously. 


148  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

They  would  slip  back  on  the  scat  and  squeeze  the  Dutch- 
woman and  her  old  man,  until  a  big  jolt  would  come  and 
throw  them  forward  on  us  again.  1  saw  the  old  woman 
was  getting  mad,  and  I  looked  out  for  squalls.  The  fat 
man  in  front  of  her  had  a  stern  like  a  junk — round  and 
big  and  full  in  the  run,  you  know — and  he  took  up  room 
enough  a't  his  best. 

"  By  and  by  it  breezed  up  a  bit.  *  John  ! '  she  whis- 
pered, sharp  and  angry,  '  make  dat  man  keep  on  he  seat.' 
John  didn't  do  anything,  but  the  fat  man  slipped  as  far 
forward  as  he  could.  He  worked  back  again  directly,  and 
it  began  to  freshen.  *  John,  dat  man  on  my  knee.'  John 
said  nothing,  but  the  fat  fellow  crowded  forward  again. 
But  he  couldn't  help  sliding  back  with  the  motion  of  the 
stage,  and  it  was  a  weighty  matter  for  him  to  move  him- 
self. Then  it  blew  a  strong  breeze.  *  John,  you  tell  dat 
man  keep  off  o'  me  !  '  John  didn't  answer.  *  John  !  you 
hear  what  I  tell  you  ? '  Not  a  word  out  of  John.  *  John  ! 
you  tell  Mm  he  must  move ! '  No  answer.  *  A  hretty  sort 
of  a  husband  you  is  !     Say,  you  man,  you  move!"* 

"  The  fat  man  moved  forward  with  a  sigh.  Pretty  soon 
it  was,  *  Mister,  you  get  off  o'  my  leg  ! '  It  was  a  moder- 
ate gale  now.  Pretty  soon  again,  '  Mister,  you  keep  off 
o'  me,  by  dam  I '  Every  time  she  spoke  he  would  slide  for- 
ward, but  in  a  minute  he  would  slip  back.  *  Mister,  you 
get  out  o'  my  lap ! '  Strong  gale  blowing  now.  *  Mister, 
you  got  to  get  off  o'  my  lap,  you  hear  mef*  *  Mister,  you 
hurt  my  leg  ! '  '  Mister,  you  must  get  out  o'  my  lap^  by 
dam  ! '  '  Mister,  woman  no  like  every  man  set  in  her  lap.' 
'  Mister,  you  keep  out  o'  my  lap,  or  I  stick  a  pin  in  you,  by 
Lord  I '     Roaring  hurricane. 

"  I  watched  the  fat  man  closely  then.  For  awhile  he 
managed  to  keep  forward,  but  in  five  minutes  he  forgot 
and  slipped  back.  All  on  a  sudden  his  face  twitched  and 
got  red,  and  he  gave  a  squirm  and  a  groan.  She  had 
done  it. 

"  The  fat  man  looked  at  me,  and  for  the  first  and  last 


A   STORY    OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  149 

time  he  spoke.  'Young — man,'  says  he,  *  would — you — 
jest — as  lief— change — seats — with — me?*  I  changed 
with  hira,  and  we  had  a  dead  calm. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  propose  the  health  of  a  veteran  tar, 
browned  by  the  suns  of  twenty  cruises,  toughened  in  a 
thousand  gales,  gray  in  his  country's  service,  our  esteemed 
guest,  the  bosen  ! " 

The  toast  was  drunk,  and  Thick  began.  "I  suppose 
you  want  me  to  spin  you  a  yarn  like  Mr.  Larkin  done,  but 
I'm  thankful  to  say  I  live  on  the  coast,  and  never  have 
occasion  to  go  out  o'  sight  o'  salt  water  between  cruises. 

"  I've  seen  enough  that's  hard  to  forgit  in  my  life,  and 
when  it  comes  in  natural  I  can  spin  yarns  as  long  as  any- 
body ;  but  jest  to  set  down  and  pick  good  stuff  out  of  all 
the  oakum  in  my  head,  and  reel  that  off  in  a  nice  slick  fox, 
ain't  so  easy.    I  dont  believe  I  can  do  it,  if  you'll  let  me  off. 

"  But  what  Mr.  Larkin  was  sayin'  about  bein'  tough 
and  weather-beaten  reminds  me  o'  when  I  was  a  young 
man  in  the  service  and  went  out  bosen's  mate  o'  the 
schooner  Grampus.  We  was  cruisin'  in  the  Gulf,  pro- 
tectin'  merchantmen,  for  I  tell  you  the  pirates  was  worse 
then  nor  now — a  bloody  sight  worse.  They  robbed  as 
much  and  murdered  more.  I've  know'd  a  loaded  merchant- 
man to  lay  three  months  in  the  Havana  waitin'  for  a  con- 
voy, and  then  git  snapped  up  outside  the  harbor. 

"  We  had  been  down  to  the  Spanish  Main  with  a  con- 
voy, ^nd  chased  a  pirate  and  run  him  ashore  below  San 
Antonio  comin'  back,  and  we  was  proceedin'  to  Charleston 
accordin'  to  orders,  for  some  ships  waitin'  for  us  there. 
That  Grampus  always  was  a  damned  unlucky  thing. 
She  was  fast,  I  allow  ;  but  it  was  because  she  was  sparred 
too  heavy.  By  the  Hokum  !  what  a  clew  she  spread !  her 
main  boom,  young  gentlemen,  was — ninety— foot — long! 
Well,  she  was  over-sparred,  and  she  was  all  cut  away  be- 
low, so  she  had  no  bearin's,  and  her  battery  was  too  heavy 
for  her,  and  we  had  fired  away  most  of  our  ammynition, 
and  eat  up  our  pork  and  hard  tack,  and   drunk  up  our 


150  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

water — what  comes  out  of  the  hold  goes  over  the  bows, 
you  know — till  she  was  as  empty  below  as  a  waister's 
scouse-pan  at  one  bell.  By  the  Boot !  but  I  was  scared  of 
her,  young  man  as  I  was.     I  ricollect  it  well. 

"  We  was  joggin'  along  with  a  light  breeze  on  the  port 
beam  and  sheets  eased  off,  and  the  north  coast  jest  in  sight 
to  leeward,  and  dreamin'  of  no  danger.  Young  gentlemen, 
I  am  ashamed  to  own  it,  but  a  squall  got  up  in  the  south- 
west, and  come  on  us,  and  capsized  us,  and  nobody  seen 
it  till  it  was  close  aboard.  Every  fool  aboard  was  lookin' 
to  wind'ard  or  nowhere.  The  first  I  know'd  I  heard  the 
sails  flop.  *  Breeze  a  dyin'  out,'  thinks  I,  and  looks  to 
wind'ard.  Everything  was  still  and  the  sky  was  clear  thei*e, 
but  I  couldn't  account  for  losin'  the  breeze  so  sudden,  and 
I  felt  uneasy.  But  I  didn't  have  time  to  mickerate  long, 
for  while  I  was  starin'  I  felt  a  cold  puff  on  the  back  o' 
my  neck.  I  turned  around  quick,  and  good  Lord  !  there 
it  was  not  three  cables  lengths  off,  on  the  lee  quarter,  by 
the  Piper  !  a  livin'  mass  of  white  foam  with  a  gray  cloud 
over  it,  racin',  bilin'  along  straight  for  us.  *Look  to  lee- 
ward ! '  I  hollered  to  the  mate  that  had  the  deck.  *Hard 
a  larboard  !  '  he  yells.  *  Flow  the  head  sheets  !  haul  over 
the  boom,  Thick,  for  God's  sake ! '  I  wasn't  waitin'  for  no 
orders  then,  though.  I  was  there  before  he  spoke,  and  two 
other  men  with  me.  We  might  'a  saved  her,  for  the  head 
sheets  was  gone  and  she  was  a  wonderful  craft  to  luff, 
always,  but  jest  as  the  boom  was  amidships — youngs  gen- 
tlemen, let  this  be  your  lesson.  Don't  neglect  little  things, 
or  the  day  may  come  when  you'll  suddenly  find  'em  big. 
A  little  thing  cost  the  United  States  the  schooner  Gram- 
pus. A  reef  point  had  worked  loose  in  the  eyelet  right 
over  the  sheet  block,  and  some  fool  had  been  amusin'  him- 
self by  puUin'  it  through  as  fur  as  he  could  and  leavin'  the 
end  hang  down.  It  was  jest  long  enough  to  choke  the 
luff  o?  the  boom  sheet,  when  we  had  got  the  boom  amid- 
ships and  begun  to  heave  it  over  to  larboard.  Two  inches 
shorter  and  it  would  'a  gone  clear.     I  tried  to  pull  it  out 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  151 

but  it  was  jammed  so  tight  in  the  shell,  I  didn't  have  time 
enough.  The  squall  struck  her,  and  over  she  went  at  one 
turn,  clean  over,  keel  up,  perfectly  turned  turkle. 

"  As  luck  would  have  it,  we  had  got  both  our  big  boats 
in  the  waist  that  mornin'  to  caulk  and  paint  'em,  for  they 
was  leakin'  bad  ;  and  they  was  all  caulked  tight  as  bottles 
when  the  schooner  was  knocked  down  and  layin'  loose  on 
deck.  As  luck  would  have  it  again,  they  was  both  launched 
clear,  so  most  of  the  men  in  the  water  got  to  'em  soon,  and 
hung  on.  They  managed  to  upright  'em,  and  get  in,  and 
bale  'em  out,  while  they  was  driftin'  away.  I  lost  sight  of 
'em  directly  in  the  rain,  and  when  the  squall  blowed  off 
clear  again,  they  was  clean  gone. 

"  I  never  got  in  the  water  at  all,  but  as  she  turned,  kep' 
a-runnin'  up  the  top  side  of  her,  till  she  give  two  or  three 
wallows,  and  stopped,  and  I  found  myself  a  settin'  on  her 
keel,  scrapin'  acquaintance  with  the  barnacles.  The  bloody 
beast !  But  by  the  Hokum  !  I  was  glad  jest  then  she 
hadn't  done  no  worse.  First  thing  I  see  was  men  a-crawl- 
in'  up  the  weather  side  of  her  bottom,  which  they  done 
eas3'-  enough,  and  them  to  leeward,  tryin'  to  get  up  and 
droppin'  back)  ker  splush  !  Then  I  see  a  man,  Tom  Teel, 
a  chummy  o'  mine — I  thought  a  heap  o'  that  man — he's  dead 
now — died  of  the  fever  on  the  west  coast  of  Africky  in  the 
Somers — and  he  was  a  strong  swimmer.  He  was  about 
four  or  five  fathoms  to  leeward,  tryin'  to  fight  up  against 
the  wind.  He  was  a  losin'  a  little,  all  the  time,  and  couldn't 
'a  done  as  well  as  he  done  but  he  got  some  advantage  from 
the  lee  of  the  hull.  I  see  him  open  his  mouth,  and  I  know'd 
he  was  hailin'  me;  but  though  he  had  a  powerful'  voice,  I 
couldn't  hear  nothin'  for  the  roarin'  o'  the  wind.  I  jest 
put  my  hand  across  my  mouth  for  a  sign  to  him  not  to 
waste  his  wind  hollerin',  and  I  looked  around  for  somethin' 
to  heave  him.  By  Gash  !  but  I  was  glad  when  I  see  a  line 
washed  and  blowed  up  high  enough  for  me  to  reach  it.  It 
was  one  of  the  boat  falls  and  a  plenty  of  it.  I  hove  the 
end  to  Tom  and  had  him  aboard  in  less  time  than  it  took 


152  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Mr.  Munson  to  carry  away  the  launch's  topmast  on  the 
main-yardarm  coming  alongside  with  the  liberty-men  in 
Santa  Cruz. 

"  Then  we  got  the  rest  of  the  fellows  to  leeward  up  and 
counted  heads.  It  was  awful  to  think  that  inside  of  her 
the  mpn  that  had  no  warnin'  was  dyin'  so  nigh  us,  right 
under  us,  and  we  unable  to  help  'em.  We  had  nothin'  to 
cut  through  her  bottom  with,  and  if  we  had  we  wouldn't  'a 
done  it  for  she  would  'a  sunk  right  under  us  in  five  min- 
utes. All  that  kep  her  up,  she  was  so  tight  the  air  in  her 
couldn't  come  through  her  seams  but  slow. 

"  Well,  we  set  on  her  keel  three  days  and  nights.  It 
fell  dead  calm,  and  there  we  set  burnin'  up  in  the  sun, 
Btarvin,'  dyin'  for  a  drink  o'  water,  and  the  big  goggle- 
eyed  sharks  a-cruisin'  around  slow  and  easy,  right  close 
aboard.  Every  little  while  one  of  'em  would  poke  his  ugly 
flat  nose  against  the  side  of  the  schooner,  and  look  at  us 
solemn,  as  much  as  to  say,  'Take  your  time — you're  my 
meat.'  By  the  Hokum  !  they  made  me  half-crazy.  I 
wanted  a  dozen  good  lances  to  give  "em  a  taste  of  my  qual- 
ity with.  And  there  we  set  three  days  and  nights,  and  her 
a  settlin'  steady,  sir,  and  the  little  blubbers  comin'  up  from 
her  seams  every  roll." 

Just  here  Mr.  Young  gave  a  giggle.  Turning  to  him, 
Thick  asked  severely,  "Might  I  inquire  what  you  are 
laughin'  at,  sir  ?  " 

"  At  the  little  blubbers,"  answered  Young,  with  another 
snicker. 

"If  you  had  'a  been  there  you  wouldn't  laugh.  It's 
thirty  odd  year  ago  and  I  never  felt  like  laughin'  yet,  when 
I  ricoUect  it.  Them  blubbers  was  our  certain  death  if 
nothin'  come  to  take  us  off,  and  we  know'd  it." 

"  I  didn't  mean  anything,"  apologized  Young. 

"  Shake  hands  on  it,  Mr.  Young.  You're  a  little  too  fond 
of  your  fun,  but  I  know  you're  a  good-intentioned  young 
officer.  Well,"  he  resumed,  "  we  was  took  off,  or  I 
shouldn't  be  a-drinkin'  your  grog  to-night,  young  gentle- 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        153 

men.     A greasy  little  Spanish  brig,  though  I  oughtn't 

to  say  anything  against  her,  seein'  what  she  done  for  us — 
she  picked  us  up,  and  the  Grampus  went  down  three  hours 
afterward  and  us  ojfof  her.  So  you  know  she  wouldn't  a 
kep'  up  much  longer  with  us  on  her.  We  run  into  the 
Havana,  and  there  was  most  of  the  rest,  officers  and  all. 
There  was  only  eleven  lost." 

"  Well,  bosen,  we  are  much  obliged,  and  will  let  you 
off  your  2/ar/i.  But  tell  us  how  you  were  reminded  of  this 
accident  by  my  calling  you  a  tough  tar,"  said  Larkin. 

"  Oh,  that's  plain  enough,"  responded  Thick,  with  sim- 
plicity. *'  An  officer  ought  to  be  tough  and  able  to  stand 
most  anything.  And  he  needs '  picklin'  too.  It  takes  a 
deal  o'  soakin'  in  brine  to  make  a  prime  officer.  Look  at 
Mr.  Garnet,  now." 

"  Where  does  the  pickling  come  in  ?  "  asked  Munson. 

*'  Why,  wasn't  we  in  a  pretty  pickle  on  the  schooner's 
bottom  ?  "  The  mids  declared  that  he  had  perfectly  sup- 
plied the  missing  link  in  the  chain  of  sequent  deductions. 

Then  they  drank  the  health  of  Dry  Bob  the  Gunner, 
but  failed  to  get  a  story  out  of  him.  He  declared  that  his 
junk  was  all  on  charge,  but  promised  to  have  a  yarn  ready 
before  the  next  time. 

"  Bosen,"  asked  Robinson,  "  were  you  ever  on  the  coast 
ofAfrica?" 

"  One  cruise,  in  the  Adams,"  replied  Thick,  "  and  I'm 
thankful  it's  no  more.  It's  nasty  work  hangin'  around  the 
mouths  o'  them  black  muddy  rivers,  watchin'  for  slavers. 
First  you  know,  all  hands  is  getting  the  fever,  and  then 
there's  nothing  for  it  but  to  run  to  sea  till  it  blows  out  of 
the  ship.  -I  pray  the  Lord  never  to  send  me  on  that  sta- 
tion again,  by  the  hokum  !  " 

«  Isn't  it  awful  hot  there  ?  "  asked  Smith. 

"  Hot !  It's  meltin'.  I've  seen  the  master  tryin'  to  get 
a  meridian,  and  the  sextant  melted,  leavin'  nothin'  but  the 
handle  in  his  hand,  and  the  metal  run  down  inside  his  coat- 
sleeve  and  burnt  it  all  to  blazes.  I  see  a  man  sweat  so 
7* 


164  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

much  he  was  all  dried  up,  and  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
he  didn't  weigh  but  fifty  pounds.  We  had  to  lay  him  on 
a  board  and  carry  him — 'fraid  to  touch  him,  lest  he'd  crum- 
ble like  a  pie-crust.  The  doctor  made  him  drink  two 
quarts  o'  soup  with  win-e  in  it,  and  hung  him  over  the  quar- 
ter to  soak.  I  see  a  man  go  to  sleep  in  the  shade,  and  the 
sun  got  on  to  his  legs,  and  when  he  woke  up  they  was 
cooked  clean  to  his  knees.  We  had  a  little  dog  aboard, 
and  that  man  got  no  peace  of  his  life  afterward  for  the 
dog's  following  him  about  the  decks,  snippin'  and  bitin' 
at  his  trousers  legs,  tryin'  to  get  at  the  roasted  meat." 

"Avast  heaving,  bosen  ! "  "Come  down  a  snake!" 
"Heave  and  pawl!"  "Take  a  turn!"  *' Choke  his 
luff!  " — cried  out  the  laughing  youngsters. 

When  their  noise  had  somewhat  diminished,  Godolphin 
solemnly  spoke.  "Mr.  Thick,  you  must'nt  expect  me  to 
believe  all  that." 

"As  you  please,  Mr.  Porp.  I  generally  puts  things, 
and  leaves  'em  to  the  power  of  my  hearers'  minds." 

"But,  bosen,"  said  Munson,  "I  know  it  is  thundering 
hot  down  there.  How  do  the  men  stand  to  work  in  the 
Sim?" 

"They  couldn't  stand  it.  The  men  is  always  spared 
the  heavy  work.  They  hire  the  niggers — Kroomen,  they 
call  'em,  cause  they  use  'em  for  the  time  bein'  as  crews — to 
do  all  the  boat  work  and  a  good  deal  of  the  rest.  Them 
niggers  is  a  sweet-scented  set;  d — d  dish-faced,  pitcher- 
mouthed,  bench-legged  fellows,  with  ears  like  saddle-skirts 
and  noses  like  a  baboon.  They've  all  got  names,  too. 
Every  mother's  son  of  'em  is  named  John,  and  lots  of  'em 
is  called  Friday.  I  know'd  one  named  Christmas,  and  one 
was  Easter,  and  we  named  one  Fourth  of  July.  He  was 
mightily  pleased  with  it — thought  it  was  pretty,  and  it  was 
too  good  for  that  black  rascal.     Fourth  of  July  stole  a 

pair  of  my  breeches, him  !     There  was  all  the  bells — 

One  Bell,  Two  Bells,  and  so  on — and  John  Sheepshanks  and 
Bowline-on-the-bight,    and   Flemish   Hoss,  and   Bottle   o' 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  155 

Beer.     Bottle  o'  Beer  was  a  general  favorite.     He  was 
head  man  and  tol'able  honest — for  a  nigger." 

"  I  reckon  mighty  few  of  those  fellows  are  so  honest  but 
they'll  find  a  hotter  climate  than  even  the  coast  of  Africa 
hereafter,"  said  Munson. 

**  Don't    know   about    that,"    replied  the    boatswain. 

*'  Some  no  'count  will  make good  angels,  to  my  way 

o'  thinking." 

"  Coal  black  angels  with  woolly  wings,  eh  ?  "  said  Lar- 
kin,  comically.  "  Quoth  the  raven,  *  it's  agin  my  princi- 
ples.'    Come,  fill  up,  fellows." 

"  You'd  better  not  laugh  so  loud,"  cautioned  the  gun- 
ner.    "You  recollect  that  night  ?  " 

"  That's  so,  young  gentlemen,"  said  Thick.  "  Mr. 
McKizick  will  stand  a  good  deal,  specially  on  a  Saturday 
night,  but  you  must  expect  his  patience  to  give  out  some 
time." 

"  Ah,  William,"  cried  one  of  the  young  rogues,  "  I 
know  what's  the  matter.  You  recollect  how  Idle  Bob  was 
about  to  get  the  best  of  you,  and  you  don't  want  to  tackle 
him  again." 

"I  know  you  young  gentlemen  got  the  better  of  us 
both,  and  I  felt  like  a  fool  with  the  first  luff  talkin'  to  me. 
You  can't  play  that  trick  twice." 

Then  the  whole  crowd  turned  on  Harrison,  and  tried  to 
get  him  to  challenge  Thick  to  finish  the  match.  At  first 
he  gave  no  better  answer  than  to  sit  smiling  at  them,  then 
he  said,  "Thick's  too  strong.  I'm  afraid  of  him.  He 
could  knock  a  fly  a  mile."  They  left  off  urging,  and  Thick 
asked  Young  to  sing  that  song  about  the  Sailor  Boy's 
Good-by. 

"  Want  to  hear  it,  fellows?  " 

"  Yes."  «  Fire  away,  Young  I "  "  Pipe  up  ! "  came 
from  the  party. 

So. encouraged  he  sang  a  short  little  song,  with  the  old 
sentiment  and  stereotyped  words  about  the  sailor  boy,  and 
home,  and  friends,  and  sweetheart,  and  farewell,  and  roll- 


156  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

ing  ocean,  and  bright  anticipations  of  returning  with  fame 
and  cash.  The  music  was  fair,  and  the  voice  sweet,  and  all 
enjoyed  it. 

As  soon  as  he  finished,  Thick  began,  without  invitation, 
a  dolorous  ditty.  He  sang  in  the  old  lee-gangway  style, 
droning  out  the  words,  and  increasing,  by  the  severity  of 
his  yellow  visage,  the  effect  of  an  air  already  sufficiently 
sad.     The  whole  thing  was  irresistibly  comic. 

"  Come,  all  ye  landsmen,  stout  and  bold, 
I'll  bowse  your  attentions  cliock-a-block  ; 
I'll  sing  you  a  story  oft's  been  told, 
The  loss  of  the  old  Peacock. 

"  Now  steady,  my  boys,  the  captain  cried. 
Keep  silence  fore  and  aft. 
I'm  sure  it  would,  do  you  good,  , 

To  see  him  work  the  craft." 

So  far  he  got,  when  Young,  unable  to  control  himself,  let 
out  the  end  of  a  laugh ;  and  instantly  all  hands  broke  into 
a  roar.  The  noise  was  so  great,  that  all  of  them  thought  of 
McKizick  at  once,  and  the  stream  of  sound  ceased  suddenly, 
cut  off  by  the  moral  spigot.  But  dread  of  the  first  luff,  and 
unwillingness  to  hurt  Thick's  feelings,  were  not  enough  to- 
gether to  prevent  the  sputterings  of  fun  which  escaped  from 
several,  as  they  recalled  the  boatswain's  solemn  face  and 
creaking  voice.  He  looked  very  indignant  for  an  instant, 
and  then  softened,  saying  that  "  Young  gentlemen  would 
have  their  laugh  at  anything."  He  even  tried  to  join  in, 
but  did  not  enjoy  it,  and  only  got  into  the  dry  grins. 

Mr.  Young  relieved  him. 

He  rose  to  his  feet,  rather  exhilarated,  and  proposed  as 
a  toast,  "  The  downfall  of  the  barbarious  Moors !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Thick,  sighing  deeply,  and  wiping  his 
mouth.  "  Yes,  d — n  'em,  they  have  been  much  damage  to 
us.     Do  you  know  where  the  ship  is  goin',  Mr.  Larkin  ?" 

Larkin  took  a  chart  down  off  the  lockers,  and  uaroUed 
it.  They  all  gathered  around  the  table,  from  which  the 
spilled  punch  was  wiped  with  an  improvised  swab — the 


A   STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  157 

inner  side  of  a  pea-jacket — before  the  chart  was  spread 
out.  It  was  a  very  imperfect  one,  showing  but  few  of  the 
shoals  and  rocks.  The  Cobre  was  pointed  out  as  their 
centre  of  operations ;  but  though  the  river  was  known  to  be 
navigable  for  several  miles,  there  were  no  soundings  laid 
down,  and  no  indications  given  by  which  it  could  be 
entered. 

When  they  had  finished  looking  at  it,  Young,  who  was 
slightly  confused  by  the  liquor  he  had  drunk,  and  was 
under  the  impression  that  he  ought  to  reply  to  his  own 
toastjwith  a  story,  began :  "  I  could  tell  how  the  barbarious 
Moors  fetched  it  all  in  my  head,  as  well  as  the  bosen  did 
awhile  ago — " 

"All  what,  old  man?" 

"  Why  !  "  looking  about  surprised.  "  This  story  Pm 
going  to  tell." 

«  All  right !  "  "  Heave  ahead  !  "  "  Trip  and  cast  her  !  " 
"Hoist  away  the  flying-jib  !  "  exclaimed  the  chorus. 

"  It  was  last  summer,  when  I  was  in  the  receiving-ship 
at  Philadelphia,"  he  began,  "  the  captain,  old  Maskelyne — 
Maskelyne's  dad,  you  know,  fellows — lived  in  the  spar-deck 
cabin.  Reckon  you've  all  heard  what  a  careful  old  codger 
he  is — has  his  quart'-deck  midshipmen  in  to  report  the 
weather  three  times  every  night.  Used  to  have  *to  do  it 
sometimes,  myself.  He  was  awful  hard  to  wake  up,  old 
Maskelyne — used  to  have  to  shake  him  and  roll  him  in  the 
bed,  he  !  he  !     Then  he'd  wake  up  on  a  sudden  and  roar 

out,  '  Who  in ^s  that  f '     Golly  !  I  was  scared  the  first 

time.  I  found  out  all  you  had  to  do  was  to  sing  out  how 
the  weather  was  and  walk  out. 

"  Old  Maskelyne's  two  nieces  come  aboard  one  day — 
Maskelyne's  cousins  you  know — such  pretty  girls — 'bout 
seventeen.  Oh,  me."  He  stopped  and  sighed.  "  Fellows, 
let's  drink  Susan  Maskelyne's  health — Susan's  my  sweet- 
heart— Sat^d'y  night,  yon  know  ?  " 

The  middies  were  all  a  little  elevated  by  this  time,  and 
acceded  very  willingly.     "  Fellow-citizens  !"  cried  Larkin, 


158  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

"  the  health  'f  her  who  reigns  s'preme  'n  the  bosom  of  our 
frien* — Miss  Susan  Maskelyne  !  " 

Young  went  on :  "  Thank  you,  fellows.  'S  kind  o'  you. 
"Well,  they  were  both  aboard,  Susan  and  Annie,  and  I  had 
to  show  'em  the  ship,  and  then  old  Maskelyne  had  me  in 
the  cabin,  to  play  with  'em,  he  said ;  but  we  did  better'n 
that,  and  I  saw  a  heap  of  'em,  and  I  flatter  myself  I  made 
a  good  impression.  That  evening  it  come  on  to  blow 
strong  up  the  river,  and  raised  a  chopping  sea  for  the  Dela- 
ware, and  the  girls  were  afraid  to  go  ashore,  so  the  captain 
told  'em  he'd  put  'em  in  a  bed  aboard,  and  they  were 
tickled  to  death  at  the  idea  of  sleeping  aboard  a  man-of- 
war.  But  I  did'nt  know  anything  about  their  being 
aboard — honor  bright — I  thought  they  had  gone  ashore. 

"  I  had  the  middle  \^atch,  and  I  was  walking  with  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  and  he  was  spinning  me  a  yarn,  and 
suddenly  at  five  bells  says  he,  *  Mr.  Young,  the  captain 
left  orders  to  report  the  weather  at  four  bells.  Get  in  as 
quick's  you  play  ! '  So  I  ran  aft,  and  by  the  sentry  at  the 
cabin  door.  He  said  something  to  me,  but  I  paid  no  atten- 
tion, I  was  in  such  a  hurry.  I  went  right  in  the  captain's 
state-room,  and  took  him  by  the  shoulder  as  usual,  and 
begun  to  shake  him  like  a  bunch  of  oakum.  Thinks  I, 
*he  shakes  very  easy  to-night.'  Then  he  stirred,  and  I 
knew  that  was  the  right  time  to  catch  himj  and  I  com- 
menced to  report,  *  Wind  dying  out,  and  it's  raining  hard,' 
and  golly  !  such  a  screech  !  *  Ow  !  ow  !  ow ! '  I  nearly 
jumped  out  of  my  skin,  but  I  held  on  to  him.  The  orderly 
came  in  with  the  deck-lantern  just  then,  and  there  I  was 
with  my  hand  on  Susan's  shoulder,  and  Annie  sitting  up  in 
the  bed  screaming,  and  Susan  screaming  too,  and  me  in 
my  oil-skin  looking  foolish  and  dripping  on  the  carpet,  and 
the  beast  of  a  marine  holding  the  light  up,  and  the  worst 
of  it  all  was  old  Maskelyne  woke  up  and  come  over.  You 
know  how  fat  he  is,  and  he  has  the  rheumatism,  and  he 
had  on  a  long  red  flannel  night-gown,  and  he  looked 
bloody.     Says  he,  *You  young  scoundrel,  what  are  you 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  159 

doing  in  my  nieces'  room  ? '  and  he  came  near  lambasting 
me  before  I  could  explain  it.  That  beast  of  a  sentry  !  he 
ought  to  have  stopped  me.  I  fell  in  love  with  Susan  the 
minute  he  brought  in  the  light  and  I  saw  who  it  was ;  but 
she  never  would  let  me  explain,  and  I  know  she  hates  me. 
I  tell  you  what,  fellows,  a  fellow  feels  queer  when  he  finds 
he's  got  the  wrong  pig  by  the  ear,  and  is  shaking  a  pretty 
girl,  instead  of  the  old  man." 

"  A  pretty  girl,"  said  Thick,  musingly.  "  I  don't  deny 
she  was,  but,  young  gentlemen,  you  should  'a  seen  my  wife 
when  we  was  married.  There's  nothin'  to  tell  her  looks  but 
a  piece  o'  pfbetry  I  watched  one  o'  the  men  writin'  on  the 
fokesel  paint-work  with  a  lead  pencil.  I  was  goin'  to  report 
him,  but  it  was  so  pretty  I  let  him  off  when  he  told  me  he 
made  it  up  himself. 

"  '  The  rose  is  red, 
The  violet's  blue, 
Sugar's  sweet, 
And  so  is  she.' 

"That's  her  number.  Young  gentlemen,  you  will  never 
know  what  true  comfort  is  till  you  get  married.  I  approve 
of  all  of  you  havin'  sweethearts — reg'lar,  decent  sweethearts, 
I  mean — at  home  where  you  live,  and  not  goin'  on  forever 
like  Mr.  Hartley  and  Mr.  Garnet  is  doin',  with  no  concern 
for  the  future.  ,  You  all  marry  as  soon  as  you  can'.  If  you 
can  get  a  good  wife,  marry  as  soon  as  you're  passed.  I 
have  seen  a  good  deal  of  the  service,  and  I  know  it  saves 
much  for  an  officer  to  marry  young.  Isn't  that  so,  Harri- 
son ?  "  said  he,  appealing  to  the  gunner. 

"  Sometimes  it  is." 

"  Always  so,  always.  Now  I'm  only  a  bosen,  and  never 
will  be  anything  more,  and  jest  look  at  my  house.  I  own 
every  stick  of  it,  and  the  land,  too,  and  I  can  raise  cabbage 
between  cruises,  if  it  comes  in  the  summer  time." 

Thick  went  on  and  gave  a  full  history  of  his  house,  from 
its  first  conception  in  his  mind,  when  he  was  *  in  the  States 


160  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

frigate  round  the  Horn,'  down  to  the  time  the  last  piece  of 
furniture  was  put  into  it.  He  told  them  how  he  '  wouldn't 
have  no  cellar  dug,  but  jest  done  it  himself,  after  the  house 
was  built.'  How  he  *  couldn't  get  the  dirt  out  handy,  and 
rove  a  double  Spanish  burton,  and  hooked  the  block  to  the 
basket  so  he  could  bowse  it  out  without  stirring  from  under 
the  house,  empty  it  with  a  spilling-line,  and  overhaul  the 
burton  with  the  same,  to  bring  the  basket  back  for  another 
load.'  How  the  basket  wore  out  and  he  '  had  to  borry  a 
wheelbarry.'  How  there  was  a  gully  on  one  side  of  his  big 
gate,  which  caused  wagons  coming  in  to  *  take  a  rank  sheer 
to  starboard  and  nigh  capsize,'  and  how  he  wheeled  dirt 
and  filled  it  up.  He  advised  them,  when  their  future  wives 
were  secured,  to  be  kind  and  attentive.  "  Don't  run  about 
too  much  nights,  gentlemen,  the  women  don't  like  it.  I'm 
a  mason,  and  I  have  to  'tend  the  lodge  when  I'm  home,  but 
my  wife  never  did  like  me  to  go  though  I  always  manage 
to  be  in  by  two  bells.  There  a  brother  died — he  was  a 
shoemaker — and  I  couldn't  get  away  from  the  lodge  till 
five  bells,  and  when  I  got  home  it  was  nigh  six  bells.  And 
there  was  my  wife,  settin^  up  !  She  set  up  all  that  time  for 
me.  Says  she,  *  William,  we've  been  married  seven  year, 
and  I  never  know'd  you  to  stay  out  later  than  nine  o'clock 
before.'  Says  I,  '  I  know  it,  Mary  Ann  ;  and  I'm  sorry  for 
it.'"  From  all  Thick's  account  she  must  have  been  a 
notable  housekeeper  and  a  bit  of  a  shrew. 

Most  of  this  time  the  middies  had  been  more  interested 
in  the  fast-ebbing  bowl  of  punch,  and  in  shooting  bits  of 
hard  bread  at  Porp,  who  was  sound  asleep,  and  wheezing  in 
the  corner,  than  in  Thick's  talk.  It  was  getting  so  late 
they  dared  not  make  any  noise,  though  all  more  or  less 
inebriated,  but  when  Thick  began  to  relate  the  manner  and 
incidents  of  his  courtship  they  all  listened  again.  He  told 
first  how  he  met  the  young  woman,  and  scared  away  a  rival 
with  his  brass-buttons;  and  then  the  course  of  his  true 
love  ran  smooth  as  lie  carried  the  story  along  to  where 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        161 

Mary  Ann  had   accepted  him,  and  he  had  only  the  opposi- 
tion of  the  old  folks  to  encounter. 

"You  see,  young  gentlemen,  they  hated  soldiers,  and 
like  a  pair  of  fools,  though  I  shouldn't  like  Mary  Ann  to 
hear  me  say  so,  they  put  me  into  the  same  category.  I 
argied  with  'era,  hut  'twas  no  use.  They  said  I  wore  the 
clothes  and  took  the  government  pay,  and  I  was  no  better 
nor  a  fightin'  pauper,  livin'  off  o'  poor  folks  ashore ;  and 
sailors  never  had  no  principle's,  nohow.  So  the  thing  was 
a  standin'  so,  and  Mary  Ann  vowin'  she'd  wait  till  they 
was  both  dead  before  she'd  give  me  up,  when  I  got  my 
orders  to  the  Adams  for  the  West  Coast.  I  goes  to  her 
and  I  says,  '  Mary  Ann,  I  am  ordered  to  the  coast  of 
Africky ! '  The  poor  thing,  she  turned  as  pale  as  fresh 
paint-work.  Says  she,  *  Oh  William  ! '  says  she — it  was 
all  she  could  say.  Then  I  told  her  how  she  stood  a  good 
chance  o'  seein'  me  no  more,  and  how  she  must  marry  me 
that  evenin',  for  I  had  to  go  off  to  Portsmouth  in  a  schooner 
that  was  to  sail  next  mornin' ;  'I  will,'  said  she,  and  I 
know'd  she'd  do  it.  So  I  told  her  to  pretend  to  go  out 
before  supper  to  see  a  friend  o'  hern,  and  get  her  friend 
and  walk  around  to  the  Methodist  church,  and  I'd  have  a 
preacher  primed  to  splice  us.  She  promised,  and  all  she 
said  against  it  was  she  wished  she  had  a  chance  to  fix  her 
clothes  up  better  before  she  was  married.  I  got  my  things 
aboard  the  schooner,  and  I  see  the  preacher  and  made  it 
all  right  with  him;  and  then  I  waited  mighty  impatient 
till  six  o'clock,  and  went  around  to  the  church  with  a 
chummy  o'  mine.  Mary  Ann  was  there,  and  we  was 
spliced  in  a  jiffy,  and  a  good,  smooth,  long  splice  it  was, 
young  gentlemen.  She  cried  a  bit,  but  I  cheered  her  up 
as  we  walked  toward  the  house.  There  was  three  rooms 
in  it  on  the  ground  floor.  The  old  folks  slep  up  stairs,  and 
Mary  Ann's  room  was  the  back  one  below.  When  she 
got  home  she  begun  cryin'  again,  and  I  couldn't  stop  her. 
I  told  her  she  would  wake  the  old  folks  up,  but  she  vowed 
she  -didn't    care — she  was   my  wife   anyhow,    but   when 


162  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

would  she  ever  see  me  again!  I  jest  told  her  I  wasn't 
gone  yet,  and  so  long  as  she  was  my  wife,  I  could  see  no 
reason  for  goin'  before  mornin'.  Well,  young  gentlemen, 
if  a  gal  is  really  fond  of  a  man,  she  will  keep  him  along- 
side on  most  any  terms. 

*'  Her  pa  heard  us  come  in  and  go  in  her  room,  and  he 
come  down  stairs  and  wanted  to  turn  me  out,  but  I  advised 
him  to  go  back  to  his  wife,  and  leave  me  alone  with  mine. 
I  showed  him  the  stifferkit,*  and  told  him  if  he  didn't  get 
out  I'd  put  him  out,  and  he  went  off.  I  see  no  more  of  him 
for  three  yeai*6. 

"  Next  mornin'  by  day  I  was  aboard  the  schooner,  help- 
in'  get  her  under  way  ;  but  before  I  left  I  give  Mary  Ann 
three  hundred  dollars,  and  told  her  she  should  have  more, 
for  I  would  leave  her  a  'lotment  o'  my  pay,  and  she  had  the 
law  on  her  side,  and  if  they  troubled  her  jest  to  take  board 
and  live  separate.  When  my  wife's  pa  and  ma  see  the 
money,  they  treated  her  wonderful  polite.  I  declare,  I 
thought  that  cruise  on  the  coast  was  the  longest  cruise  I 
ever  see.     By  the  Boot  ! " 

"  How  long  'go  was  this,  bos'n  ?  "  asked  Larkin. 

*'  Seventeen  year  ago,  this  month." 

Larkin  tipped  a  tipsy  wink  to  the  other  mids,  and  went 
on  :    "  Got  'ny  chil'r'n,  bos'n  ?" 

"  Two,  as  fine  as  you  ever  see,"  replied  Thick. 

"How  old  are  they,  bosen?"  asked  Smith,  who  had 
caught  the  wink. 

"  I  see  what  you're  steerin'  for  very  well,  young  gentle- 
men. My  daughters  is  sixteen  year  and  three  months,  and 
thirteen  year  and  three  months  ;  and  thankful  I  am  they  is 
of  the  age  they  ought  to  be." 

"Gennlem'n,"  said  Larkin  frowning,  "on'y  one  more 
glass  'piece.     F'lup !     Gennlem'n,  healt'  'sting'sht  'oman. 

" '  Rose  red, 
Vil'ts  blue. 
Sugar's  sweet, 
So's  she.' 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  163 

Ha  !  Ha !  Ha !  Great'n  good  'oman.  Wife  'f  our  frien' — 
Miss  Fick ! " 

The  boatswain  appeared  flattered  by  this  mark  of  at- 
tention. 

The  party  got  out  pipes  and  cigars,  and  with  uncertain 
steps  went  forward  under  the  swinging  hammocks  to  their 
smoking-place,  leaving  Porp  wheezing  noisily  in  the  corner. 
They  received  sundry  maledictions  on  the  way,  from  sea- 
men whom  they  awakened  by  attempting  to  stand  up 
straight  when  directly  underneath  them.  Young  was  about 
the  furthest  gone,  though  even  he  was  not  too  full  for  utter- 
ance. "  Mr.  Young,"  said  Thick,  as  the  men  grumbled  at 
being  disturbed,  "if  any  of  these  United  States  seamen 
offer  to  punch  you  in  the  eye,  tell  'em  you've  jest  been 
punched  in  the  bread  locker,  and  they'll  let  you  alone." 

"  Sh'up !  "  replied  Young,  feebly.  "  Your  voice  too 
fick  for  jokin'." 


CHAPTER  XIH. 


O'N'  the  following  morning  the  usual  preparations  for 
Sunday  inspection  were  made.  The  decks  were  washed 
clean  before  breakfast ;  and  the  warm  sun  and  wind  had 
almost  dried  them  by  eight  bells,  when  the  men  sat  down 
around  their  tarpaulin  table-cloths  to  eat  the  morning 
scouse.  The  scene  on  the  Fish's  spar-deck  at  that  hour  was 
pleasant.  Everything  was  as  neat  and  nice  as  it  well  could 
be.  The  rigging  was  laid  down  for  running,  the  paint  was 
milky  white  after  its  scrubbing,  the  bright-work  shone 
brilliantly,  and  the  sails  by  their  close  sheet-home,  taut 
leeches,  and  perfect  trimming,  bore  witness  to  Garnet's  care. 
The  men  sat  in  groups,  d  la  turque^  around  the  mess-cloths, 
grubbing  away  with  good  appetites,  and  for  the  most  part 
in  silence.  Captain  Merritt  came  up  on  the  quarter-deck, 
looked  about  and  aloft,  well-satisfied,  and  went  down  to 
his  breakfast. 


1Q4:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

By  degrees,  as  the  men  finished  their  meal,  a  confused 
noise  of  talking,  laughing,  and  jesting  uprose  ;  and  to  this 
Babelish  sound  was  soon  added  the  clatter  of  the  tinware, 
as  the  mess-cooks  cleared  off  the  cloths.  The  men  felt 
well.  They  had  finished  the  heavy  part  of  Sunday's  work, 
and  they  had  a  good  loaf  in  prospect.  Their  stomachs 
were  full,  and  they  were  enjoying  their  pipes  while  they 
put  on  their  best  clothes  in  a  sunshine  bright  enough  to 
make  a  hypochondriac  happy ;  and  they  were  now  on  their 
cruising  ground,  and  were  hoping  soon  to  have  the  excite- 
ment without  which  it  is  impossible  for  sailors  to  live. 

In  the  steerage,  a  party  of  dismal  youngsters  assembled 
round,  the  table  with  aching  heads,  made  a  very  light 
breakfast.  They  were  penitent,  and  thought  "  sweet- 
hearts and  wives  "  a  poor  afiair.  Larkin  "  believed  he'd 
swear  off."  Young  said  he  would  too  ;  but  Maskelyne, 
who  had  escaped  a  headache  by  having  his  watch  to  keep 
the  night  before,  laughed  at  them,  and  told  them  they 
would  feel  badly  next  Saturday  night  when  they  broke 
their  oaths. 

"  Better  put  in  only  a  quart  next  time.  Larkin  made  it 
too  good  for  you." 

As  no  one  replied  it  may  be  presumed  the  amendment 
was  accepted. 

In  the  ward-room  also,  there  was  a  silent  party.  Briggs 
was  looking  bloated  and  puffy  about  the  eyes  as  a  conse- 
quence of  his  mid-watch  the  night  before.  Hartley  was 
hurrying  to  finish  his  breakfast,  and  relieve  Garnet.  Rob- 
bins  was  apparently  affected  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
midshipmen,  though  he  had  kept  Saturday  night  alone  in 
his  state-room,  and  with  no  reference  to  the  ladies  in  his 
deep^  potations.  Doctor  Bobus's  solid  remarks  received  so 
little  attention  that  he  became  silent,  and  the  rest  were  not 
great  talkers  at  any  time.  They  were  all  oppressed  with 
the  sensation  of  a  bore,  which  had  soon  to  be  endured,  the 
Sunday  morning  inspection.  It  was  a  wearying  nuisance 
in  itself,  and  made  necessary  a  good  deal  of  troublesome 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.         165 

preparation.  Item^  shaving,  rendered  a  tedious  and  deli- 
cate operation  by  the  lively  motion  of  the  ship.  Item^  a 
complete  clean  rig,  from  head  to  foot.  Item^  shirt  buttons 
to  look  after,  clothes  to  have  brushed,  and  shoes  to  have 
polished  by  the  lazy  servants.  Then  the  inspection  itself. 
It  was  tiresome  to  stand  stock  still,  while  the  captain  satis- 
fied himself  of  the  cleanliness  of  every  man,  and  of  each  part 
of  the  ship.  Then  would  come  the  articles  of  war,  and  then 
the  captain  would  read  the  Episcopal  service  to  all  hands. 

They  were  not  to  be  so  much  bored  as  they  expected 
however. 

During  the  inspection,  the  captain  had  paused  in  a 
gun  division  to  sternly  contemplate  a  powder-monkey,  a 
lank  yellow-faced  boy,  with  enormous  ears,  who  answered 
in  the  ship  to  the  appropriate  nickname  of  "Dirty."  He 
had  finished  the  examination,  before  which  Dirty  shrank 
as  usual,  had  given  an  order  to  Mr.  McKizick  to  have  "  that 
boy  cleaned,"  and  was  about  to  start  on  ;  when  a  long- 
drawn,  far-away,  musical  cry  quavered  through  the  ship. 
"  Sai-i-i-il,  ho-o-o  I  " 

It  was  the  lookout  on  the  fore-topsail  yard.  Every 
man  on  board  started  involuntarily  at  the  sound. 

"  Where  away  ?  "  bawled  Dularge,  who  in  his  capacity 
as  ex-master  had  the  deck. 

"  Dead  ahead,  sir,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Can  you  make  her  out  ?  " 

"  Topsail  schooner,  sir,"  replied  the  lookout. 

"  How  is  she  standing  ?  " 

"  Hove-to,  sir." 

The  captain  heard,  and  went  on  more  rapidly  to  com- 
plete the  inspection.  "  Beat  the  retreat,  sir,  and  let's  have 
a  look  at  this  fellow,"  he  said,  when  they  had  finished  the 
official  tour. 

The  drum's  quick  note  sounded  out,  the  men  standing 
perfectly  still  in  their  places,  until  the  last  tap.  Then,  in 
a  moment,  the  silence  and  order  were  lost  in  a  general 
breaking  up.     All  below  rushed  on  deck  to  see  the  strange 


166  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

vessel.  Sails  were  not  so  plenty  fifty  years  ago  as  now,  in 
those  waters,  and  every  body  expected  news,  at  least,  from 
the  schooner. 

The  stranger  was  in  plain  sight  from  the  deck,  about 
four  miles  away,  right  ahead.  At  that  distance  the  eye 
could  not  disengage  more  details  from  the  mass  than  that 
her  spars  appeared  very  long  and  that  she  was  hove  to. 

The  wind  was  light  from  the  north,  off  the  land,  and  the 
Fish  was  moving  but  slowly.  At  the  present  rate  of  pro- 
gress she  could  not  expect  to  reach  the  schooner  in  less  than 
an  hour  and  a  half.  The  captain  got  out  in  the  weather 
quarter-boat  and  examined  her  long  and  carefully ;  but, 
apparently  dissatisfied  with  his  observation,  he  sent  Burke 
to  the  foretop-gallant  mast-head,  giving  him  his  own  glass. 
Burke  returned  directly.  "  She's  a  topsail  schooner,  sir, 
not  like  the  common  run  o'  coasters.  Lookout  says  she 
run  from  behind  the  p'int  and  backed  her  taupsle.  She's 
got  a  boat  ashore  on  the  key." 

Every  body  by  this  time  was  full,  of  the  excitement  of 
expectation,  oflicers  and  men  alike  watching  the  schooner 
and  making  conjectures. 

"  McKizick,"  said  the  captain,  "  come  in  the  cabin  and 
let's  look  at  the  chart.  It  would  be  a  fine  thing  if  we  had 
flushed  our  bird  already. 

"Aye,"  answered  the  first  lieutenant,  as  he  descended 
the  ladder,  "  but  he's  flushed  out  o'  gunshot.  I'd  rather 
see  him  a  cable's  length  abeam,  with  the  hands  at  their 
quarters." 

"  So  would  I,  for  that  matter,'*  said  the  captain,  walk- 
ing into  the  cabin.  "  And  I'm  thinking  we  won't  be  so 
lucky  as  to  get  him  in  that  situation  very  soon.  Well," 
he  continued,  sitting  down  at  a  table  on  which  the  chart 
was  spread,  and  pointing  out  the  plotted  position  of  the 
ship,  "  here's  where  we  were  at  seven.  Course  west  by 
south,  nine  knots — puts  us  Aere."  He  made  a  dot  with 
the  pencil.  "  Let's  see  how  it  agrees  with  the  bearings. 
South  point  of  El  Cayo   del  Pescador  bears  west,  one^ 


A    8T0KY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  167 

half  south.  Mount  Alforjas,  northwest  by  north,  three 
quarters  north.  Very  near.  A  little  southwesterly  current, 
I  think." 

"Let's  see  about  where  that  schooner  is,"  asked 
McKizick.  • 

"  Just  about  here,"  replied  the  captain,  indicating  the 
spot  with  his  pencil.  "  If  he  would  lie  still,  we  would  be 
up  at  six  bells.     Let's  go  on  deck." 

•  The  ship  continued  to  approach  the  stationary  schooner 
slowly,  very  slowly  it  seemed  to  the  eager  men,  though 
every  minute  brought  her  more  plainly  in  sight.  Nearer 
and  nearer  she  came,  as  the  dragging  minutes  went  by. 
Now  she  was  within  three  miles.  Another  long  twenty 
minutes  and  it  was  only  two.  The  schooner's  boat  could 
now  be  seen  lying  up  on  the  beach  and  the  forms  of  men 
could  be  made  out  near  by.  Aboard  the  Flying  Fish  all 
were  filled  by  a  common  impatience  and  a  common  fear  of 
seeing  the  stranger  vessel  fill  away  and  stand  ofi";  and 
now  they  began  to  wonder  why  she  did  not  go.  There 
was  a  presentiment  of  adventure  on  board :  a  craft  look- 
ing so  much  out  of  the  common  must  be  something  out  of 
the  common. 

And  still  they  draw  nearer.  Now  she  is  within  a  mile 
and  three  quarters.  "  McKizick,  let  the  people  shift  into 
working  blue,"  orders  the  captain.  The  order  goes  to 
Hartley,  who  has  the  deck,  and  in  a  minute  the  boatswain's 
mates  are  passing  the  word,  ^  Hear  there,  fore  and  aft, 
shift  yourselves  in  working  blue  I  "  The  men  rush  below 
for  their  clothes  bags,  reappearing  directly,  one  by  one, 
much  more  plainly  dressed  in  their  substantial  working 
suits.  All  the  good  watching  places  are  quickly  filled 
again.  Now  they  are  within  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  the 
erew  becomes  highly  eager.  "  We're  in  shot  of  her  !  " 
"  Why  don't  we  blaze  away  at  her  ?  "  "Why  don't  the  old 
man  send  us  to  quarters  ?  "  ai)d  such  like  expressions  are 
heard  all  around.  They  watch  the  captain  now  as  much 
as  they  do  the  suspicious  schooner. 


168  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

"You  may  send  the  men  to  quarters  and  open  the 
magazine,  McKizick,"  says  the  captain  at  last.  "Don't 
beat  the  drum." 

"  I'll  relieve  you,  Mr.  Hartley,"  says  McKizick,  walking 
to  him  rapidly  and  taking  the  deck-trumpet.  "-Go  to  your 
quarters  !  "  he  orders.  "  Mr.  Briggs,  open  the  magazine. 
Boy  !  tell  the  master-at-arms  to  send  everybody  to  quar- 
ters, and  then  tell  the  officers." 

At  the  first  sound  of  his  voice  the  men  flew  to  the 
guns,  and  took  their  stations.  "  Cast  loose  and  pro- 
vide ! "  commanded  McKizick.  The  ship  assumed  at  once 
an  aspect  of  bustle  and  confusion  which  looked  little  like 
what  it  in  reality  was — a  result  of  organization  and  drill. 
In  three  minutes  the  work  was  done,  the  men  ranged  mo- 
tionless in  their  stations,  the  last  officer  had  reported  his 
division  ready  for  action,  and  the  ship  was  as  still  as  the 
death  she  menaced. 

By  this  time  the  schooner  was  about  a  mile  off,  and  as 
distance  always  seems  much  shorter  ov^er  the  water  than 
on  shore,  she  appeared  very  near.  The  men  on  her  deck 
were  as  impatient  as  the  seamen  of  the  sloop,  to  judge  by 
their  hurried,  anxious  movements.  Every  few  seconds  the 
faint  sound  of  a  shout  came  over  the  interlying  water  to 
the  Fish.  The  men  on  the  beach  had  launched  their  boat, 
and  sat  in  her  with  their  oars  poised,  seemingly  waiting. 
Occasionally  they  gave  a  few  strokes,  to  keep  her  from 
drifting  ashore  in  the  light  surf. 

"  Keep  away  a  little,  McKizick,  and  try  him  with  the 
bow-gun.  Aim  outside  of  him,"  ordered  Captain  Merritt, 
who  wanted  to  try  whether  the  schooner  was  within  easy 
range,  and  give  her  commander  an  intimation  that  he  had 
better  remain  where  he  was, 

"  Boom  J  "  went  the  gun.  The  shot  sailed  through  the 
air,  a  lessening  black  speck,  and  dropped  in  the  water 
short,  and  far  to  the  left.  Hardly  did  the  fountain  of 
spray  which  it  threw  up  fall  again,  than  the  schooner  was 
seen  to  brace  round  her  topsail-yard,  and  stand  directly 


A    STOET    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  169 

toward  the  sloop.  A  low  murmur  of  disappointment  was 
beard  among  the  crew. 

"  Why,  he's  all  right."  "  He's  standin'  down  to  speak 
to  us."     "He's  no  pirate."     "  He's  comin'  along^de!  " 

They  were  shortly  to  be  undeceived,  for  the  stranger 
soon  luffed  up,  and  backed  her  topsail  again,  this  time 
heaving  to,  very  near  her  boat. 

As  she  came  to  the  wind,  two  men  appeared  over  the 
crest  of  a  sand  hillock  on  the  key,  and  ran  down  to  the 
beach,  carrying  a  box  between  them.  They  reached  the 
shore,  ran  into  the  water  to  meet  the  boat,  lifted  the  box 
into  her,  and  jumped  in  themselves.  The  four  men  at  the 
oars  gave  way  powerfully,  and  sent  their  boat  swiftly 
through  the  water  toward  the  schooner,  one  of  those  who 
had  come  down  with  the  box,  standing  up  in  the  stern, 
bending  his  body  in  time  with  the  stroke,  and  waving  his 
cap  as  if  to  encourage  the  rowers  to  greater  exertions. 
Two  minutes  sufficed  to  put  them  alongside.  They  sprang 
on  board,  and  the  boat  seemed  to  follow  them  at  once,  so 
quickly  did  she  rise  from  the  water.  She  was  hoisted  with 
marvellous  quickness  in  the  pilot-boat  way.  At  the  same 
time  the  schooner's  main  sheet  was  eased  off,  and  her  top- 
sail braced  sharp  aback.  She  spun  round  on  her  heel,  and  as 
her  head  came  southwest,  her  topsail  was  braced  full,  and 
her  head-sheets  drawn ;  and  she  instantly  shot  away  in  that 
direction. 

"  Open  on  him,  McKizick ;  elevate  all  you  can,  and  fire 
coolly,"  ordered  the  captain. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  responded  the  first  lieutenant  heartily. 

"  Mr.  Dularge,  flow  the  main-sheet,  and  brail  up  the 
spanker !  Up  helm  !  Prime  !  Point  !  "  he  called,  the 
last  two  orders  down  the  main  hatch  in  a  stentorian 
voice,  echoed  by  the  officers  of  the  divisions.  "  Fifteen 
hundred  yards  !  train  sharp  for'd  !  Keep  her  south,  quar- 
termaster." 

The  orders  were  rapidly  obeyed,  while  the  ship  paid 

8« 


170  LOVE  AFLOAT.  * 

off,  and  then  all  was  still  again.  McKizick  raised  his 
powerful  voice  once  more. 

"  Gun  captains,  take  your  time  pointing,  and  don't 
waste  the  shot !     Aim  at  the  hull ! " 

Meanwhile  the  schooner,  which  had  been  within  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  when  she  filled  away,  was  plainly  in- 
creasing her  distance.  The  ship  was  now  steady  on  her  new 
course,  and  running  faster  for  being  so  much  off  the  wind. 

"  Commence  firing  !  " 

Instantly  the  guns  began  to  go  off  irregularly  from 
different  parts  of  the  ship;  first  one,  then  five  or  six 
nearly  together,  then  a  pause,  then  the  rest  of  the 
broadside.  The  ship  jarred  and  vibrated  to  her  keel,  and 
the  light  spar-deck  waved  with  the  heavy  concussions, 
which  were  enough  to  stun  an  unaccustomed  ear.  The 
captain  eagerly  watched  the  effect  of  the  discharge,  and 
as  soon  as  he  could  see  through  the  smoke,  looked  ex- 
ceedingly blank.  Directly  the  guns  were  reloaded,  and 
another  broadside  followed,  even  more  irregular  than  the 
first.  From  that  time  gun  followed  gun  at  unequal  inter- 
vals, each  firing  independently  of  everything  but  the 
quickness  of  its  crew.  The  captain  kept  his  glass  on  the 
schooner  for  a  few  minutes,  then  shut  it  with  a  vexed  em- 
phasis, and  turning  to  McKizick  said  sharply  : 

"  Cease  firing,  sir  ;  he'll  think  we're  playing  with  him. 
Make  sail,  sir.     Southwest,  quartermaster." 

"  Cease  firing  !  "  ordered  McKizick.  "  On  deck  every- 
body, to  make  sail !  " 

The  schooner  had  now  very  materially  increased  her 
distance.  The  only  visible  effect  of  the  sloop's  fire  was  a 
single  hole  in  the  mainsail ;  neither  the  other  sails,  nor  the 
spars,  nor  the  hull,  showing  any  marks  of  shot.  The  gun 
captains  had  all  been  too  eager  and  hurried. 

"  Starboard  stunsels  ready  for  setting  !  Keep  fast  the 
lower  stunsel ! "  commanded  McKizick,  as  the  crew 
swarmed  up  from  below.  In  a  few  minuj;es  the  topmast 
and  topgallant  studding-sails  were  up,  each  being  set  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  and  without  waiting  on  the  others. 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  171 

The  effect  of  these  large  additional  sails,  standing  out 
like  wings  to  windward,  was  at  once  felt.  The  ship's  speed 
increased,  and  she  seemed  for  awhile  to  hold  her  own  with 
the  schooner.  Though  this  was  not  the  case,  for  the 
smaller  vessel  had  every  advantage  in  the  light  wind  and 
smooth  sea,  she  appeared  to  take  an  alarm.  An  enormous 
light  lib  ran  up  on  board  her,  and  her  main-topmast  stay- 
sail was  also  set.  This  increase  of  her  sail  power  placed 
the  relative  speed  of  the  two  vessels  as  it  had  been  at  first. 
The  schooner  gained  fast ;  and  it  was  evident  that  nothing 
but  an  accident  could  bring  her  within  gunshot  again. 
On  that  chance  Captain  Merritt  kept  up  the  pursuit. 

After  the  guns  were  secured,  the  captain  had  the  men 
who  fired  them  sent  on  the  quarter-deck.  "  My  lads,"  said 
he,  addressing  them :  "  This  is  a  poor  start.  In  picking 
you  out  to  command  the  guns  you  were  credited  with  some 
coolness.  You  have  all  been  to  sea  before  and  ought  to 
know  better  than  to  throw  away  shot  in  that  foolish  fash- 
ion. Remember  hereafter  not  to  fire  without  first  making 
sure  of  your  aim,  if  it  takes  you  an  hour.     That'll  do." 

"  Did  anybody  make  her  name  out  ?  "  he  asked,  turning 
to  McKizick. 

The  first  lieutenant  called  Burke,  him  of  the  hawk 
eye,  knowing  that  what  he  had  failed  to  see,  all  had. 
"  What  was  her  name,  Burke  ?  "  ^ 

•"  I  don't  know,  sir,"  answered  Bur^j^,*ifi,  a  tone  which 
implied  he  thought  himself  negligent  an2**^^as  sorry  for  it. 
"There  was  two  parts  of  it.  The  first  was  iay,  but  I 
couldn't  make  the  other  out.  Think  it  begun  with  an 
IL  sir." 


"  That's  it,  McKizick.  I  was  sure  she  was  our  craft  be- 
fore, but  that  settles  it,"  said  Captain  Merritt.  "  Well, 
we've  nothing  to  do  but  to  keep  her  in  sight  as  long  as  we 
can.     Keep  a  bright  look  out  on  her." 

All  the  afternoon  the  schooner  kept  on  gaining,  till  she 
was  only  a  dim  speck  in  the  horizon  ;  and  before  the  sun 
set  she  had  disappeared  altogether.     Still  Captain  Merritt 


172  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

kept  on,  bringing  the  ship  by  the  wind  at  dark,  and  not 
placing  the  usual  sidelights.  He  hoped  the  pirate  might 
try  to  run  back  between  the  Flying  Fish  and  the  shore,  and 
that  by  hauling  up  she  might  be  intercepted.  But  no 
sight  of  ghostly  sail  or  gliding  hull  rewarded  the  eyes  of 
the  keen  watchers. 

Next  morning  the  ship  was  alone,  with  nothing  in  view 
but  the  distant  mountains  of  Cuba.  The  captain  gave  up 
the  chase  as  useless,  and  headed  back  toward  the  mouth  of 
the  river  Cobre,  which  lies  five  miles  west  of  El  Cayo  del 
Pescador.  The  wind,  which  had  been  light  before,  srowly 
grew  fainter,  at  the  same  time  backing  gradually  into 
the  west. 

The  ship  was  about  half-way  to  the  key,  when  an  acci- 
dent occurred  which  shows  the  necessity  of  the  constant 
watchfulness  of  mariners.  It  has  been  said  that  eternal  vigi- 
lance is  the  price  of  liberty.     At  sea  it  is  the  price  of  life. 

Mr.  Dularge  had  the  deck  for  the  afternoon  watch. 
He  strutted  up  and  down,  delighted  with  the  gentle  breeze, 
which  could  awaken  no  anxiety  and  occasion  no  labor. 
In  fact,  it  was  only  strong  enough  to  fan  him  pleasantly. 
He  paid  no  more  attention  to  the  weather  than  he  did  to  the 
sails,  allowing  his  indolent  mind  to  loll  in  the  slough  of 
vacancv.  He  did  not  notice  a  gradual  massing  of  clouds 
in  twRiorth  over  the  land,  though  it  went  on  for  hours, 
the  volume  and  appearance  of  the  bank  becoming  continu- 
ally more  and  more  threatening.  Johnson,  the  quartermas- 
ter of  the  watch,  saw  the  gathering  danger  from  the  start, 
but  he  would  not  warn  Dularge,  because  the  foolish  young 
man  had  taken  him  to  task  for  presuming  to  do  so  once 
before.  The  consequence  was,  that  Dularge  continued  to 
parade  up  and  down  the  deck  in  all  the  blissful  security  of 
ignorance,  until  the  men  on  deck  were  casting  alternately 
looks  of  amazement  at  him,  and  of  fear  at  the  approaching 
squall.  Their  expressed  thought  would  have  been  in  some 
such  vigorous  language  as  this  :  "  Yon's  a  hell  of  a  squall 
rising,  and  that  damned  fool  hasn't  seen  it."    But  the  dis- 


A  StORY  OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  173 

cipline  of  the  service  had  become  so  much  of  a  second 
nature  to  them  that,  although  they  knew  their  lives  to  be 
in  danger,  they  hesitated  to  speak  to  their  superior  on 
the  subject.  A  number  of  the  petty  officers  and  the  older 
seamen  found .  themselves,  they  did  not  know  how,  to- 
gether on  the  forecastle  at  this  juncture.  They  sent  a 
messenger,  the  captain  of  the  after-guard,  to  ask  why  Ap 
Jones  would  not  point  out  the  squall  to  the  officer  of  the 
deck.  The  messenger  returned  directly  with  the  word 
that  "  Ap  said  it  was  none  of  his  business,  and  he  wasn't 
goiil^  to  be  damned  again  for  putting  his  eyes  in  a  fool's 
head,  and  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones  was  a  different 
sort  o'  man  to  that."  This  set  the  old  sailors  to  thinking 
very  actively  for  the  good  of  the  service.  The  result  was 
that  they  almost  forced  an  unwilling  gray-headed  boat- 
swain's mate  to  speak  to  Dularge,  at  the  last  minute. 

That  officer  knew  there  must  be  something  of  interest 
to  hear,  from  the  unusual  circumstance  of  a  shipped  man 
approaching  him  when  he  was  on  duty  :  therefore  he  paid 
an  amiable  and  strict  attention.  His  placidity  quickly 
left  him  on  hearing  the  message  and  looking  to  the  north- 
ward. 

His  first  agitated  order  was,  "  Boy  !  tell  the  captain 
to  come  on  deck !  Stand  by  to  take  in  the  stunsels  !  Hurry 
up,  will  you  !  " 

The  men  sprang  to  man  the  necessary  gear.  They  had 
already  without  orders  quietly  prepared  everything  as  far  as 
they  could  ;  and,  in  spite  of  Dularge's  confusion  and  blun- 
ders, the  outspreading  wings  began  to  fold  up  and  disai?- 
pear  rapidly. 

It  is  a  feeling  which  a  landsman  cannot  comprehend — 
a  sensation  that  strikes  into  the  very  marrow — that  thrill 
which  runs  through  a  man  when  he  hears  the  sudden  orders 
yelled  out  by  a  surprised  officer  of  the  deck,  in  some 
unknown  emergency.  "  Danger-r— unexpected — he  wasn't 
ready — what  is  it  ?  "  flashes  instinctively  through  the  brain ; 
and  in  the  same  instant  comes  an  impulse  which  drives  one 


174  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

to  the  deck.  On  this  occasion,  everybody  in  the  ship, 
Dr.  Bobus  included,  was  up  in  a  moment ;  and  each  one  who 
had  a  station  there,  went  to  it  as  if  all  hands  had  been 
called. 

Dularge  was  too  late.  He  got  the  studding  sails  in, 
and  was  clewing  down  the  topgallant  sails  and  royals, 
when  the  squall  struck  the  ship  fair  on  the  beam.  Fortu- 
nately the  yards  were  exactly  square,  and  the  wind  had 
only  the  edges  of  the  sails  to  act  upon  ;  but  even  with  this 
little  surface  exposed  she  heeled  over  till  the  muzzles  of  her 
lee  guns  dragged  in  the  water.  The  fact  that  the*head 
sails  were  set,  while  the  mainsail  and  spanker  were  in, 
joined  to  Johnson's  jamming  the  helm  hard  up  without 
orders,  kept  the  ship  from  luflfing.  Then  ensued  a  scene 
which  words  are  inadequate  to  bring  fully  before  the  mind 
of  one  unfamiliar  with  the  like.  The  sails  shook  with  a 
noise  like  rapid  continuous  musketry,  a  mighty  flap  of  the 
foresail  now  and  then  sounding  like  a  great  gun,  loose 
blocks  rattled,  the  water  boiled  and  foamed,  officers 
shrieked  unintelligible  orders,  the  men  worked  like  giants 
at  the  gear,  and  over  and  through  everything,  permeating 
and  inescapable,  was  the  shrill,  furious  scream  of  the 
squall.  A  blinding  flood  of  rain  slanted  acutely  down, 
so  thick  it  seemed  solid,  so  swift  that  the  drops  stung 
the  faces  they  struck. 

The  captain  was  early  on  deck,  and  at  once  took  the 
trumpet  from  Dularge,  assuming  active  command  himself. 
It  was  at  the  moment  the  light  sails  were  half  in,  and  the 
squall  was  on  the  ship.  He  got  them  in  and  furled  them 
(at  the  risk  of  the  lives  of  the  men  who  could  hardly  cling  to 
the  yards),  with  the  exception  of  the  fore-topgallant  sail. 
The  lee  sheet  of  that  sail  would  not  render  through  the 
sheave,  and  the  clew  line  was  parted  in  a  vain  efibrt  to  pull 
it  through  by  main  strength.  The  topgallant  mast,  carried 
away  at  the  cap  with  a  crash,  at  last,  hung  abaft  the  top- 
sail yard  _by  the  rigging,  an  unsightly  wreck.  Captain 
Merritt   braced   the  foresail  full,  and  the  ship   paid  off 


A   STOET   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  175 

slowly  before  the  wind,  the  topsail  yards  being  at  the 
same  time  clewed  down. 

By  degrees  the  squall  abated,  though  it  still  blew  in 
puffs.  The  captain  knew  it  would  be  unsafe  to  haul  by  the 
wind  while  the  main-topgallant  mast  was  without  any 
forward  support;  so,  surrendering  the  deck  to  the  first 
lieutenant,  he  gave  orders  to  keep  the  present  course,  reef 
the  topsails,  clear  away  the  wreck,  and  get  up  a  new  mast 
as  soon  as  possible.  This  was  done,  and  the  ship  close 
hauled  again,  but  by  this  time  she  had  run  a  great  distance 
to  the  southward. 

The  breeze  remained  in  the  north,  but  fell  away  pro- 
vokingly.  The  rest  of  that  day,  and  through  the  night, 
and  all  the  next  day,  they  beat  up  against  it.  In  the  after- 
noon the  key  was  sighted,  and  shortly  afterward  a  sail  was 
reported  in  the  northwest  running  across  the  sloop's  track. 
Though  the  Flying  Fish's  people  had  been  of  late  through 
too  much  to  be  excitable,  still  there  was  a  great  interest, 
and  the  sail  was  closely  watched. 

The  two  vessels  continued  to  approach  upon  converging 
lines,  but  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  schooner — such 
she  was  now  seen  to  be — was  so  much  the  swifter  that  she 
would  pass  the  vertex  long  before  the  sloop-of-war  could 
reach  it.  Captain  Merritt,  thinking  the  breeze  fresher  in 
shore,  continued  by  the  wind  after  La  Hembrilla  had  crossed 
his  bows  about  two  miles  ahead.  When  he  reached  the 
wake  of  the  schooner  the  Flying  Fish  was  kept  away  and 
every  sail  set  that  would  draw. 

La  Hembrella  was  fully  two  miles  away  and  it  was 
nearly  sunset.  To  the  surprise  of  the  man-of-war's  people, 
she  again  hove  to,  nearly  in  the  former  position,  and  lay 
there  waiting  for  them,  as  if  in  challenge.  As  s^e  lay, 
gracefully  restrained  but  seemingly  anxious  to  fly  away 
like  a  wild  bird,  rising  and  falling  slowly  on  the  light  sea, 
with  the  last  red  sunshine  on  her  sails,  she  had  a  peculiar 
air  of  tantalizing  beauty. 

When  the  ship  was  about  a  mile  distant  a  gun  was 


176  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

carefully  aimed  and  fired.     The  shot  fell  short  and  sunk. 
Without  further  delay  La  Hembrilla  filled  her  sails,  hoisted, 
her  vast  outer  jib,  and  stood  away  to  the  eastward. 

The  Fish  pursued  as  before,  sailing  in  the  light  air 
about  two  knots  to  the  schooner's  three.  Captain  Merritt 
would  not  give  it  up,  however  ;  for  he  was  not  the  man  to 
let  slip  any  possible  chance  of  destroying  so  great  an 
enemy  of  commerce.  Might  she  not  run  on  a  shoal  ?  or 
strike  a  rock  ?  or  spring  a  leak  ?  or  lose  a  mast  ?  or  meet 
with  some  other  of  the  million  accidents  of  the  sea  suffi- 
cient to  diminish  her  wonderful  speed  ?  It  was  possible  ; 
and  he  would  feel  badly  to  learn  afterward  that  he  had  lost 
a  prize  by  not  being  at  hand  to  take  advantage  of  fortune. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


THAT  evening  there  was  a  party  of  seamen  and  petty 
officers  seated  and  standing  on  the  deck  to  leeward  of 
the  foremast,  enjoying  the  smoking  hour  and  telling  stories. 
The  narrations  were  partly  of  their  own  past  lives,  and 
partly  of  what  pretended  to  be  the  adventures  of  others. 
The  first  kind  of  stories  generally  had  about  them  an  air 
of  truthfulness  which  compelled  the  hearer  to  believe  ;  the 
second-hand  yarns,  it  must  be  confessed,  bore  a  strong 
resemblance  to  myths.  Some  of  these  last  had  obtained  a 
sacredness  in  the  mind  of  the  narrators,  ingrained  by 
superstition  and  long  years  of  repetition.  To  them  the 
tales  were  true. 

It  is  no  surprising  thing  that  followers  of  the  sea  should 
be  superstitious.  They  are  ignorant,  in  the  first  place; 
and  formerly  they  were  much  more  unlettered  than  now. 
Their  literature  in  the  olden  days  was  very  small,  fre- 
quently nothing  whatever.  Confined  to  themselves  in  that 
manner,  they  fell  back  upon  tradition,  the  nurse  of  super- 
stition.   They  retained  among  them,  altered,  of  course,  to 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  177 

suit  the  age,  stones  as  old  as  the  first  voyages  of  Prince 
Henry,  perhaps  as  old  as  the  commerce  of  Tyre  or  the  ex- 
peditions of  Carthage;  and  these  tales  continued  to  pass 
along  by  word  of  mouth  from  generation  to  generation  of 
the  toilers  of  the  sea. 

This  old  yarn-spinning  tendency  is  now  dying  out. 
The  influence  of  science  ^nd  materialism  has  entered  like 
light  (or  poisonous  malaria;  suit  yourself,  reader)  into 
almost  every  nook  and  cranny  in  the  world:  it  has  affected 
even  the  navy.  The  ocean  was  once  dreaded,  and  escape 
from  its  dangers  looked  upon  as  good  luck,  or  as  an  exer- 
cise of  clemency  on  the  part  of  Davy  Jones.  Now  that 
the  mind  of  man  understands,  circumvents,  even  governs 
the  former  tyrant,  seamen  begin  to  ascribe  to  that  mind 
a  power  in  all  things;  and  the  supernatural  recedes  into 
the  dim  and  misty  background  of  the  past.  - 

But  in  addition  to  strange  stories  of  old  days,  there 
were  other  things  that  helped,  with  seamen,  to  stir  the 
supernatural  ferment  common  to  all  men's  blood  into  undue 
activity.  There  are  everywhere  some  men  of  an  observing 
cast,  who  are  at  the  same  time  impressionable,  and  who 
retain  their  impressions  as  a  part  of  themselves  forever. 
Such  men  were  in  the  service  as  common  sailors.  To  them 
the  ghostly  side  of  their  life,  their  thoughts  being  other- 
wise idle,  was  apt  to  be  often  presented ;  on  it  they  pon- 
dered as  deeply  as  men  can.  The  strangeness  and  isola- 
tion of  an  existence  passed  so  near  the  inscrutable  next  life, 
swaying  between  sky  and  earth  ;  the  vast  circle  of  the  con- 
fining horizon  ;  the  vagueness  of  cloud  shapes,  the  mystery 
of  the  storm ;  the  unchanging  heavens  forever  gemmed 
with  eyes  of  watching  stars ;  sombre  sunsets  ;  pale  moons 
glimmering  upon  the  waters  and  filling  the  ship  with  mys- 
tical effects  of  murky  shadows  and  phosphoric  sails ;  the 
white  soaring  albatross,  type  of  the  sleepless  wanderer  ; 
the  little  petrels,  which  flit  unseen  about  vessels  at  night 
uttering  faint  cries  like  the  creaking  of  spars  ;  the  unex- 
plainable  sounds  to  be  heard  in  every  ship  ; — each  had  i|| 
8*  ^ 


178  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

effect,  and,  all  combined,  a  resistless  effect,  upon  the  men 
prepared  to  receive  it  by  nature.  They,  becoming  imbued 
with  ghostliness,  gave  to  the  comrades  with  whom  they 
were  in  daily  contact  the  same  disease. 

The  group  of  men  in  the  lee  of-  the  foremast  sat  in  one 
irregular  circle,  with  an  opening  on  each  side  to  allow  pass- 
ers-by to  go  through  without  obstruction.  In  the  darkness 
their  faces  were  not  visible,  except  when  some  pipe  glowed 
brightly  under  strong  inspiration  and  illuminated  the 
smoker. 

What  a  pity  we  cannot  treat  our  minds  in  the  same 
way,  reader,  and  thus  get  glory,  being  **  seen  of  men." 
No — it  would  not  do.  We  are  so  vain  that  to  keep  con- 
stantly in  sight  we  would  soon  burn  up  our  little  stock  of 
brains,  and  go  out  flaring,  with  stinking  smoke.  Have  we 
not  seen  a  good  writer  do  this  very  thing  ? 

-  The  men  were  Johnson  and  Burke,  the  quartermasters; 
Smiley,  the  foremastman  of  the  watch  ;  Lewis  and  Brown, 
top  captains  ;  one  of  the  boatswain's  mates  ;  both  captains 
of  the  forecastle,  and  several  beside. 

They  naturally  fell  to  talking  of  La  Hembrilla,  the  ves- 
sel they  were  pursuing  at  the  moment.  Let  us  imagine  our- 
selves in  the  ship,  back  fifty  years  ago,  and  let  us  stand 
where  we  can  hear  the  talk  of  the  petty  oflicers. 

Captain  of  the  Forecastle. — "  Burke,  what  did  the  Old 
Man  say  her  name  was  ?  " 

JBurke, — "  La  Hembrilyer." 

Lewis. — "  Did  you  make  it  aout  so  !  " 

BurJce.—''  Partly." 

Xei^)*s.—"  Dew  tell  !  " 

Burhe. — "  Done  told." 

Omnes.—''  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !     Yah  !  yah  !  yah  !  " 

Brown  2d. — "  Purty  good  for  a  beginner,  Burke.  'Bout 
as  much  chance  for  us  to  overhaul  that  feller  as  there 
would  be  to  put  the  grains  into  a  Mother  Carey's  chicken." 

Boatswain^ s  Mate. — "  What  makes  ye  speak  o'  such  a 
4fcink  as  hurtin'  the  bird,  Brown  ?  " 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  179 

Brown  2d. — "  Jest  to  show  how  onpossible  it  is  for  us 
to  ketch  that  slippery  schooner.  Nobody's  goin'  to  hurt 
her  no  more'n  the  bird — to  my  way  o'  thinki^'." 

Captain  of  Forecastle. — "  Lewis,  that  was  a  blamed 
good  shot  o'  your'n.  If  we'd  a'  been  a  little  nigher 
you'd  a'  hit  the  purty  little  pirate." 

Lewis. — "  I  know'd  I  couldn't  reach  her,  but  I  jest 
wanted  ter  show  'em  we  could  shoot  stret,  anyhaow." 

Johnson — Ap  Jones. — "And  it's  high  time  you  was 
a-makin*  of  'em  think  so.  'Nother  broadside  like  that'n  o' 
Sunday,  and  they'd  not  be  afraid  to  let  us  come  alongside." 

Lewis. — "  If  all  hed  fired  Sunday  es  stret  as  I  done 
to-day  we  coi^ld  'a  gone  alongside." 

Boatswain^s  Mate. — "  Avast,  Lewis  ;  you'll  be  claimin' 
that  hole  in  her  mainsail  next  thing." 

Lewis. — "Of  course  I  claim  it.  I  fired  the  last  gun, 
ez  you  all  know,  and  Mr.  Do-Small  told  me  he  watched  my 
shot,  and  seen  it  strike." 

,ir    Johnson. — "  I  reckon  it  was  sence  the  squall  he  told  you 
that,  so  as  to  make  you  think  better  of  him." 

Smiley. — "The  officer  what  couldn't  see  a  squall  like 
that  gettin'  up  in  his  watch  for  two  hours  right  before  his 
face,  couldn't  be  depended  on  to  watch  a  shot,  Lewis." 

Lewis.— ^^  The  mastman  thet  couldn't  see  a  squall  like 
thet  en  time  to  hev  his  topgallant  sheets  clear  for  runnin', 
and  loses  the  ship  a  good  stick  by  his  blindness,  hez  no 
call  to  jedge  of  eyesight  in  anybody." 

Smiley. — "  You  know  d — n  well,  Lewis,  the  sheet  was 
foul  aloft." 

BoatswairCs  Mate. — "  Say,  you  fellows,  don't  you  git 
mad  there.  You'll  have  blue  eyes  next,  and  I'll  have  to 
cat  two  o'  my  chummies  to-morrow  raornin'." 

Ap  Jones, — "  Laws  a-land  !  what  a  fool  that  nigger 
was  !  " 

Captain  of  Forecastle. — "  Which,  Ap  !  " 

Ap  Jones. — "  That  warrant  officer's  cook — did'nt  you 
hear  about  him?    Well,  you  know  his   son,  that  Jerry 


180  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Jingo  what  helps  the  midshipmites  to  shave.  He  was 
givin'  his  daddy  some  sass  at  the  galley  this  morniii',  and 
the  old  fellow  he  gits  the  boy  by  the  scruff  o'  the  neck, 
and  paddles  him  well  with  a  bit  o'  plank.  He  *  lowed  he 
had  de  right  to  lick  his  own  chile,'  he  said.  That  boy 
Jerry  ain't  no  fool  when  it  comes  to  gittin'  around  work  or 
lickin',  so  he  goes  to  the  mast  and  reports  his  daddy  for 
fightin'.  Mr.  McKizick  he  went  down  in  the  cabin,  and  I 
hear  him  and  the  old  man  through  the  skylight,  laughing 
about  it.  '  'Twon't  do  to  be  too  hard  on  the  old  fellow^ 
McKizick,  if  he  r'ally  thought  he  was  exercising  paternal 
privileges,'  says  the  Old  Man.  '  He  whaled  the  boy — 
there's  not  a  doubt  o'  that,'  says  Mr.  Make-Pjjysic.  *  Well,' 
says  the  Old  Man,  'put  him  in  confinement  without  irons, 
on  full  rations,  for  three  days — that  is  if  you  have  any  one 
to  cook  for  the  warrant  officers  in  his  place.  And  Mr. 
Kack-Mizzerick,  keep  your  eye  on  the  boy  now.'  So  they 
put  the  old  feller  in  the  brig,  in  spite  o'  his  standin'  up  at 
the  mast  and  provin'  out  o'  the  Bible  that  all  daddies  has 
the  right  to  whup  their  boys.  Mr.  Jack-Flizzick  paid  no 
'tention  to  that,  but  told  him  as  how  he'd  been  a-fightin', 
and  them  as  fout  had  to  take  the  consekences." 

Captain  of  Forecastle, — "  Ap,  you've  got  a  mighty  mean 
way  o'  callin'  a  good  man  names  behind  his  back." 

Ap  Jones. — "  Who  was  a-talkin'  about  Mr,  Do-Small 
here,  a  minute  ago  ?  Anyhow  I  know'd  one  officer  that 
w^ouldn't  a'  let  anybody  off  for  fightin'  as  easy  as  Mr. 
McKizick  done." 

"  Who,  Ap  ?  "  asked  several  at  once. 

"Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones,  sir,"  responded  the 
quartermaster,  happy  to  bring  in  the  name  of  his  hero. 

Smiley  .-*"  So  he's  in  the  brig." 

Ap  Jones. — "  Yes  \  he  languishes  in  choky." 

Here  came  up  ^  little  fellow  belonging  to  these  meu 
called  waisters,  who  are  usually  put  \i\  that  part  of  the 
ship  because  unfit  for  anything  bi;t  tricing  ^nd  menial 
duties.     He  ^l^o^ved  a  disposition  to  make  qne  of  the  party, 


A   STOEY   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  181 

but  was  promptly  repulsed.  The  petty  officers  were  fully 
conscious  of  the  dignities  of  their  rank  in  the  Flying  Fish, 
and  would  not  permit  intimacy  in  any  one  less  than  a 
seaman  in  rating. 

Ap  Jones. — "  Gentlemen,  I  interjooce  the  first  Primin* 
Wire  and  Sailraaker."  This  was  the  only  definition  the 
poor  fellow  could  give  when  asked  the  name  of  his  station 
at  the  gun — Train  Tackleman  and  Sail-trimmer. 

All. — "  Good  evenin',  sir  !  Good  evenin,'  Mr.  Primin' 
Wire  and  Sailmaker !  " 

/Smiley. — "  Have  a  cheer,  sir." 

Lewis. — "  Our  cheers  iz  not  so  good  as  them  the  gen- 
tleman iz  used  to.  Ap,  can't  you  borry  one  aout  o'  the 
cabin  ?  " 

Captain  of  Forecastle. — "  Is  *  the  ship  goin'  astarn,  sir 
• — no,  the  lead,  I  mean,'  like  it  was  the  other  day  in  Santa 
Cruz  when  you  thought  you  was  a  quartermaster  ?  " 

Brown. — "  Ap,  while  you're  in  the  cabin,  jest  fetch  the 
gentleman  a  bottle  of  wine." 

The  man  had  sense  enough  to  know  they  were  jeering 
at  him,  but  not  enough  to  make  him  depart.  He  hesitated 
awkwardly. 

"Be  off  with  you  ! "  growled  the  boatswain's  mate 
gruffly.  "  Lay  out  on  the  flying  jib-boom  and  drop  your- 
self overboard  !  "     At  that  he  went  away. 

No  one  said  a  word  about  him  after  he  had  gone. 
Johnson  broke  the  silence. 

"  We  was  talkin'  about  doo-ils  the  other  day  on  the 
quarter-deck,  me  and  Thompson  and  Still  Bill  there,  least- 
ways me  and  Thompson  was  talkin'  and  Bill  was  listenin'. 
I  see  lots  o'  things  that-a-way,  and  they  been  a-comin'  into 
my  head  ever  sence.  There's  a  sight  o'  doo-il  fightin'  goes 
on  in  the  service,  and  Pve  seen  my  share  of  it.  Why,  when 
we  went  round  the  Horn  with  Thomas  ap  Catesby  R. 
Jones,  in  the  Ohio  liner-battle  ship,  we  had  twenty  middies 
in  the  steerage,  and  they  got  to  quarrellin'  as  soon  as  we 
discharged  the  pilot  off  the  Hook.     They  was  in  sech  a 


182  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

fix  they  wouldn't  hardly  none  of  'em  speak  to  one  another 
the  whole  passage,  and  that  was  a  matter  o'  sixty  days. 
When  we  went  in  Ry-o,  they  got  pistols  and  ammynition 
from  the  gunner  and  went  ashore  on  Santy  Lucy  island, 
and  shot  their  pistols  at  one  another  the  best  part  of  an 
afternoon  watch.  I  was  on  deck,  and  I  kep'  an  eye  on  'em 
with  the  glass.  You  could  see  two  little  puffs  o'  smoke 
every  now  and  then,  and  by  and  by  you  could  hear  the 
pistols,  it  bein'  a  still  day.  They  come  off  about  two  bells, 
purty  dirty  with  the  powder  and  grease,  and  lookin'  tired 
out  and  sulky;  but  that  night  they  made  it  up,  and  had  a 
big  blow-out,  and  was  good  friends  afterwards." 
Boatswain's  Mate. — "  Was  none  of  'em  killed  ?  " 
Ap  Jones. — "No,  not  even  a  spar  touched." 
Boatswain^s  Mate. — "  D — n  young  fools,  to  resk  their 
wind  for  nothin'  I  When  I  was  a  boy  we  font  a  fair  fist 
fight,  and  somebody  alius  got  hurt." 

Johnson. — "  They  made  it  up  and  was  good  friends, 
and  it  turned  out  lucky  for  'em  they  did.  While  we  lay 
there  they  drawed  their  pay,  forty-five  dollars  a  piece  in 
gold — and  bein'  on  their  first  cruise  and  never  havin'  sech 
a  pot  o'  money  in  their  life  before,  they  hove  it  away  like 
sweepin's.  We  was  in  port  three  weeks,  and  the  day  before 
we  sailed  the  boardin'- house  keepers  up  town  come  off  and 
went  through  'era,  and  took  their  last  dollar  and  wasn't 
satisfied  with  that.  They  said  there  was  more  comin'  to 
'em  and  they  must  have  it.  The  middies  swore  they  hadn't 
a  cent  left,  not  even  to  buy  sea-stores  with,  and  promised 
all  fair  to  send  the  cash  from  Valpyryzo  or  Cally-ow,  but 
nothin'  would  do  'cept  money  down.  They  wasn't  goin'  to 
let  them  middies  pay  with  a  fiyin'  foretaupsle;  and  so 
they  goes  to  the  first  luff,  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones, 
and  he  takes  'em  in  to  see  the  Old  Man.  The  Old  Man  sent 
for  the  caterer  o'  the  midshipmen's  mess,  and  told  him  as 
how  the  money  must  be  paid,  and  he  wasn't  goin' to  let 
the  service  be  disgraced.  Well,  the  upshot  of  it  was  the 
middies  sold  nigh  all  their  cloze  and  paid  the  boardin'- 


A    STOEY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  183 

nbuse  k  epers,  and  with  what  was  left  they  bought  a  sow 
with  pig.  That  was  all  the  sea-stores  they  had,  and  there 
was  on'y  five  white  shirts  left  amongst  'em,  and  as  five  of 
'em  was  on  deck  at  onct,  the  watch  wore  the  shirts.  They 
used  to  relieve  one  another  in  the  steerage  so  they  could 
shift.  They  lived  on  ship's  grub  till  their  sow  pigged  ofi" 
the  Horn.  I  tell  you,  they  eat  them  pigs  mighty  young ; 
— and  the  old  sow  didn't  outlive  her  young'  uns  long." 

Smiley, — "  I  don't  see  as  Mr.  Jones  showed  any  great 
conduck  with  them  middies." 

Johnso7i. — "He  done  the  best  any  man  could.  No 
officer  can  rightly  be  held  'sponsible  for  midshipmen.  He 
was  a  fine  man.  He  never  teched  ardent  sperrits.  He  had 
a  cork  heel." 

Brown. — "  Your  talkin'  about  dools  and  goin'  round 
the  Horn  'minds  me  o'  when  we  come  so  nigh  havin'  a  dool 
off  the  Horn." 

JLeiois. — "  In  a  horn,  I  calc'late.  Brown  !  " 

Brown. — "Have  it  your  own  way." 

Captain  of  Forecastle. — "  Never  mind  him.  Brown. 
Spit  it  out.     We  all  wants  to  hear  it,  Lewis  too." 

Lewis. — "  Sho  !  don't  get  so  tarnation  wrathy,  Brown. 
Reel  it  off!" 

Brown. — "There  was  two  middies  in  the  States  frig- 
ate was  awful  mad  at  one  another — some  fuss  about  a  gal 
in  Ry-o,  I  believe — and  they  was  goin'  to  fight  with  pistols 
the  fust  time  they  got  a  chance  to  set  foot  ashore.  They 
quarrelled  afresh  right  when  the  ship  was  in  a  livin'  gale, 
and  nothin'  would  do  these  young  bloodsuckers  but  a  fight 
right  off.  They  'ranged  it  all.  They  was  to  go  up  that 
night,  for  it  was  clear  and  the  moon  was  shinin'  that  bright 
you  could  thread  your  needle  by  it,  and  they  was  to  go 
out  on  the  spritsail  yard-arms,  one  to  starboard,  one  to 
larboard,  and  pop  away.  The  young  kilmarees  !  If  either 
had  a  been  teched  he'd  'a  been  gone,  for  he'd  'a  dropped 
overboard,  and  it  was  blowin'  so  hard  we  wouldn't  a  low- 
ered a  boat  if  the  flag-officer  had  fell  out  o'  the  cabin  win- 


184:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

ders.  Howsomever,  the  cabin  ports  was  up  and  barred,  so 
in  course  lie  couldn't  a  gone  through  them.  'Bout  five 
bells  the  officer  of  the  deck  see  two  middies  come  up  the 
ladder  and  look  around  sort  o'  scared,  and  start  for'd.  He 
noticed  'em  'cause  they  generally  piled  up  permiskus, 
hardly  stoppin'  so  much  as  to  salute  the  deck.  And  purty 
soon,  two  more  come  up  in  the  same  fashion,  and  they 
started  for'd  too  ;  but  a  pistol  dropped  out  o'  one  of  'em's 
breeches-leg.  The  officer  made  him  fetch  it,  and  he  see  it 
was  loaded,  and  he  twigged  the  whole  consarn.  He  sent 
for  the  other  two,  and  they  had  a  loaded  pistol,  and  the 
whole  thing  come  out." 

JBoatswain's  Mate. — *'  When  I  was  up  the  Straits 
in  the  Potomick,  we  had  a  fightin'  doctor  in  the  ship. 
He  was  a  little  bit  of  a  red-headed,  bench-legged  feller, 
that  looked  like  he  was  peaceable,  but  he'd  ruther  fight  nor 
eat  a  meal  o'  shore  grub,  any  day.  He  was  alius  a-main- 
tainin'  the  honor  of  the  sarvice,  as  he  called  it.  One  time 
he  was  ashore  in  a  coffee  (cafe)  in  Naples,  eatin'  his  dinner 
quiet  by  hisself,  and  some  Britisher  officers  of  the  R'yal 
Navy  come  in.  We  had  no  great  show  of  a  squadron  up 
the  Straits  in  them  days  ;  but  the  Britishers,  they  had  a 
slew  o'  ships,  liners  at  that.  When  we  come  in  there  was 
fifteen  sail  o'  their  liners  there,  and  we  looked  small 
amongst  'em.  Howsomever,  we  run  in  ship-shape  and 
Bristol  fashion,  not  a  head  above  the  rail,  not  a  bit  o'  n'ise 
to  be  h-eard.  We  made  the  prettiest  flyin'  moor  you  ever 
see  :  you  ought  to  see  it.  Not  a  word  was  spoke,  but  our 
first  luff  stood  up  in  the  hoss-block  and  signed  what  he 
wanted  done,  'stead  o'  givin  orders.  It  was  fine.  We 
know'd  we  were  little,  but  'lowed  to  show  them  -bloody 
Britishers  we  was  good.  We  had  jest  stopped  lickin' 
'em  fightin',  and  we  meant  to  lick  'em  workin'  sails  and 
spars.  There  was  a  power  o'  hard  feelin'  'tween  the 
two  sarvices  then,  and  lots  o'  fightin'  amongst  men  and 
officers,  too,  when  ashore.  Well  the  little  Pill  was  eatin' 
in  the  coffee  quite  peaceable,  and  them  Britishers  come  in. 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN   NAYY.  185 

and  see  he  was  a  'Merican  by  the  cut  of  his  jib,  and  con^- 
menced  for  to  bulkhead  him,  only  there  wasn't  no  bulk- 
head. They  was  talkin'  about  the  little  Potomick,  and 
laughin'  at  her  size — they  couldn't  laugh  at  nothin'  else 
about  her  ;  but  the  Pill  he  made  no  answer,  till  one  of 
'em  said  somethin'  about  her  bein'  no  meaner'n  the  country 
she  came  from.  He  got  up  then  and  challenged  the  feller, 
and  told  him  where  he'd  be  to  meet  him  next  day  w^ith  a 
friend,  and  walked  off.  Next  day  he  went  to  the  placp 
and  waited  a  long  time,  but  the  leftenaut  he  had  chal- 
lenged didn't  come.  Our  Old  Man  and  all  the  officers  was 
axed  to  a  spread  aboard  their  flag-ship  that  night.  I  was 
cap'n's  cox's'n,  and  a  little  before  dark  he  took  all  our  offi- 
cers over  to  the  liner  in  the  gig.  When  we  got  alongside, 
the  cap'n  went  up  the  ladder  and  forgot  to  tell  me  what  to 
do  with  the  boat,  so  I  jest  foUered  up  and  see  it  all.  AH 
hands  was  aft,  and  the  marines  was  turned  out  in  full  rig, 
and  all  their  officers  was  up,  and  bosen  and  side-boys  at 
the  gangway  to  receive  our  Old  Man.  Their  admiral  was 
on  the  quarter-deck,  too,  and  says  he  after  all  hands  was 
done  bowin'  and  scrapin',  *  Before  we  walks  into  the  cabin, 
I  would  thank  ye  to  wait  a  minute.  Captain  Percival.  I 
had  the  people  aft  to  hear  a  general  order.'  Our  Old  Man 
stopped,  in  course,  and  the  Britisher  read  out  a  paper  kow 
Lieutenant  Thingumaree  for  behavin'  hisself  unfit  for  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  by  insultin'  a  stranger  had  dis- 
graced the  R'yal  Sarvice,  and  how  he  had  disgraced  his- 
self by  acceptin'  a  challenge,  and  then  pusy — pusy — 
pusy — " 

Johnson, — "  Pusy — lannymunusly  ?  " 

JBocUswain's  Mate. — "  Adzackly.  Pusylanusly  backin' 
out.  Anyhow  he  was  dismissed  His  Botanic  Majesty's 
service.  Them  Britishers  was  as  polite  as  a  Frenchman, 
after  their  own  'thorities  come  down  on  'em  so  severe." 

Smiley. — "There's  Captain  Rodgers,  the  best  officer 
in  the  service  to-day,  shut  up,  Ap,  with  your  Jones  !  He 
ain't  no  coward,  though  he's  a  peaceable-disposed  man  and 


186  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

everybody  likes  him.  You'd  think  he'd  'a  got  off  without 
any  dools  to  fight,  if  anybody  could  ;  but  he  has  fit  several 
times.  I  know  he  was  shot  through  the  neck,  and  in  the 
leg,  and  he's  got  a  scar  on  the  right  wrist  where  a  ray- 
peer  gashed  him." 

Lewis. — "  I  see  no  advantage  in  ofiicers  shootin'  and 
stabbin'  of  one  'nother  so  much." 

Johnson. — "  It's  the  custom  of  the  service,  and  must 
have  its  advantage." 

Smiley. — "  Anyhow,  there's  too  much  of  it.  Don't 
you  think  so  ?  " 

Boatswain's  Mate. — "  A  d — d  sight  too  much." 

Brown. — ^*It's  nonsense." 

Captain  of  Forecastle. — **In  course  it  is.  It  s'poses 
all  to  be  worth  the  same,  whilst  one  may  be  a  good  offi- 
cer with  a  head  on  him  and  the  other  a  d — d  fool.  That's 
so.  Bill  ?  " 

JBurJce. — "  Aye.     There'll  be  less  of  it." 

Several. — "  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

Burke  made  no  reply. 

Boatswain's  Mate. — "  Still  Bill,  you're  a  purty  feller, 
ain't  you  ?  You're  no  better  nor  a  pirate.  You  set 
around  and  soak  up  wisdom  like  a  sponge  soaks  water,  and 
you  never  let's  none  out.  D — n  my  eyes,  you  ought  to  be 
squeezed  !     Come,  spin  us  a  yarn  !  " 

Burke. — "  I'm  no  hand  at  it." 

Brown. — "You  better  make  a  hand  then,  for  there's 
no  fairness  in  your  way  o'  doin'." 

Burke. — "  I  shipped  for  a  quartermaster." 

Johnson. — "Brown's  right.  Bill;  there  ain*t  no  fair- 
ness in  it.  What's  yours  is  mine  and  mine's  my  own,  that's 
what  you  go  on.  S'pose  we  was  all  to  shet  our  tater  traps 
like  you,  wouldn't  the  ship  be  a  hell  afloat  ?  " 

Burke. — "I  was  born  and  raised  on  Block  Island." 
(Sensation  among  the  audience,  who  now  knew  Burke's 
nativity,  always  before  a  matter  of  conjecture.)  "My 
father  was  born  and  raised  on  Block  Island.     He  told  me 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  187 

this  yarn,  and  I  know  it's  so ;  for  he  was  a  straight  man. 
My  mother's  brother's  wife  told  him  her  gran'dad  told  her 
it  happened  when  he  was  a  little  boy.  He  lived  to  be 
ninety-seven.  When  the  country  was  young,  one  time  a 
ship-load  of  folks  come  over  to  live.  The  men  mutinied 
and  took  the  ship.  They  killed  the  officers  and  fetched 
the  passengers  on.  The  men  lost  their  reckoning,  and 
it  come  on  to  blow,  and  the  ship  got  a-fire.  She  run 
right  on  to  the  beach  of  Block  Island  in  the  gale.  The 
folks  on  the  cliffs  could  see  them.  The  men  were  drunk 
and  were  killing  the  passengers.  The  ship  was  blazing 
high  up,  clean  to  her  poles.  The  passengers  were  holler- 
ing and  jumping  overboard.  The  men  were  singing. 
When  she  struck  she  broached  to.  A  sea  capsized  her 
and  put  out  the  fire,  quick.  They  saw  no  more  from  the 
cliffs.  Next  morning  the  wreck  was  broken  up,  and  no 
life  was  saved.  Every  year  the  ship  comes  in  yet.  She 
comes  in  at  midnight  blazing  and  racing  in  the  gale,  and 
the  passengers  hollering  and  jumping  overboard,  and  the 
men  singing  and  killing  them.  She  strikes  and  broaches 
to,  and  that's  the  last  of  her." 

The  awe-struck  men  about  Burke  did  not  think  of 
questioning  the  narration.  To  them  it  was  veritable 
welcome  truth. 

Presently  there  spoke  a  fore-topman  called  Morris,  who 
had  hitherto  been  silent. 

"That's  the  best  yarn  to-night,  by  odds.  It  makes, 
me  feel  queer  all  over. 

"  It  reminds  me  of  when  I  was  on  the  west  coast  in  a 
trading  schooner.  I  got  tired  of  going  cruise  after  cruise  in 
the  service  ;  so  when  I  was  paid  off  in  Boston  in  '20,  I 
shipped  aboard  a  schooner  that  was  going  out  with  rum 
and  muskets  and  looking-glasses  and  cSlico,  to  trade  with 
the  darkeys  for  gold-dust  and  ivoiy  and  pea-nuts  and  cro- 
ton  nuts.  We  were  to  take  the  croton  nuts  to  England 
and  sell  them,  and  bring  the  rest  of  the  stuff  home.  I  got 
the  second  mate's  billet. 


188  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  We  ran  across  the  pond  nicely,  and  commenced  work- 
ing at  Cape  Coast  Castle.  But  there  was  almost  nothing 
to  buy  there,  and  that  so  much  dearer  than  usual  that  the 
captain  concluded  there  must  have  been  a  good  many  ves- 
sels that  way  lately.  So  we  on  ran  down  into  the  Bight 
of  Biafra,  to  a  place  called  Mungo  Park  Town.  There  we 
found  a  fleet  of  small  sail  like  our  own,  all  busy  trad- 
ing. There  must  have  been  twenty  vessels.  There 
were  an  immense  number  of  niggers  on  shore,  with  dust 
and  ivory,  and  everything  else  we  wanted,  and  all  anxious 
to  barter.  Our  anchor  was  hardly  down  before  two  or 
three  captains  of  other  vessels  were  aboard  to  tell  us  about 
the  tariff  of  prices  all  had  agreed  on,  and  see  if  we  would 
stand  up  to  it.  It  was  lower  than  we  expected,  and  of 
course  we  signed  the  agreement. 

"  The  trade  was  brisk,  I  tell  you.  Boats  going  and 
coming  all  the  time  with  men  from  the  schooners  and 
brigs,  and  canoes  paddling  backward  and  forward  all  the 
time  with  niggers :  whites  ashore,  niggers  aboard,  vessels 
full  of  darkeys  from  morn  till  dew — till  night  :  dust,  and 
bones,  and  nuts,  and  guns,  and  powder,  and  lead,  and  calico, 
and  glasses,  and  rum,  changing  hands  fast. 

"  For  convenience  sake  we  were  all  as  close  in  shore 
as  we  could  lay,  and  one  vessel  was  right  in  the  mouth  of 
a  creek  that  runs  through  the  nigger  town  into  the  harbor. 
The  consequence  of  our  proximity  and  of  our  meeting  so 
much  ashore,  was  that  in  a  week  we  were  all  acquainted. 
Then  we  took  to  pulling  around  evenings  to  visit  one 
another,  and  got  better  acquainted  still.  Some  nights  all 
but  the  ship-keepers  would  be  crowded  aboard  one  vessel, 
smoking  and  singing." 

Johnson. — "  And  drinkin'  ?  " 

Morris. — "  We  were  afraid  to  drink  much  on  account 
of  fever.  But  the  fever  came  anyhow.  One  morning  there 
were  a  dozen  men  down  in  the  fleet,  and  two  died  before 
night.  Next  day  half  the  crew  were  in  their  bunks,  and 
a  lot  died.     Next  morning  after  that,  half  the  vessels  were 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN  NAVY*  180 

gone.  They  commenced  getting  underway  at  sundown, 
and  all  night  they  kept  running  out  past  us,  going  to  sea 
to  blow  the  fever  out.  The  rest  stuck  to  it — our  captain 
amongst  them.  We  had  got  off  clear  so  far,  and  he  was 
too  keen  for  the  owners — he  had  a  share  himself — to  leave 
at  a  time  when  the  trade  would  be  bettered  by  so  many 
going  out  of  it.  So  he  staid  and  worked  us  harder  than 
ever.  For  the  next  three  days  it  was  awful.  Two  or 
three  times  a  day  we  would  see  a  dead  man  hove  over- 
board, and  the  sharks'  fins  would  swarm  about  the  place.  ' 

"  Our  captain  had  a  medical  book,  and  a  big  box  of 
medicines  ;  and  he  showed  us  two  mates  how  to  treat  the 
disease.  He  went  around  every  morning  and  dosed  every 
sick  man  in  the  harbor,  but  it  didn't  seem  to  hinder  their 
dying.  One  at  a  time  the  other  vessels  got  scared  and 
went  out,  till  on  the  fifth  day,  there  were  only  two  beside 
ours. 

"  That  morning  at  breakfast  the  captain  couldn't  eat 
anything,  but  he  joked  a  little  about  the  other  two  vessels, 
which  were  preparing  to  slip,  being  too  weak-handed  to  get 
their  anchors.  After  breakfast  he  said  he  felt  bad,  and 
would  lie  down  a  bit.  So  he  did,  and  never  got  up  again. 
He  was  dead  before  dinner. 

"  The  first  mate  agreed  then  to  do  what  I  had  wanted 
all  along,  and  we  went  to  work  to  get  underway  as  quick 
as  we  could.  But  before  we  got  out  of  the  harbor  most  of 
the  m6n  were  feeling  bad,  and  as  soon  as  we  were  clear  of 
the  land  the  mate  got  down.  Before  next  morning  there 
was  only  myself  and  one  other  hand  that  wasn't  sick.  I 
was  in  a  tight  place — anxious  to  get  out  fast,  and  afraid 
to  carry  sail  on  account  of  the  squalls.  That  one  w|»had 
the  other  day  was  nothing  to  some  of  the  squalls  on  the 
west  coast." 

Johnson. — "  That's  so.  They  comes  without  warnin* 
and  heaves  a  ship  down,  before  she  can  shorten  sail  or  keep 
away." 

Morris, — "  The  sick  men  were  all  more  or  less  crazy, 


190  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

but  they  didn't  die  so  fast  as  those  in  shore  had  died.  The 
man  that  kept  up  took  spells  with  me  at  the  wheel  and 
resting.  The  one  that  was  resting  had  to  give  the  sick 
men  their  medicine  and  watch  a  young  fellow  who  was 
raving  mad.  He  was  a  handsome  lad,  about  twenty,  come 
on  his  first  cruise  to  try  the  sea.  You  couldn't  tell  what 
he  would  do.  Once  he  got  up,  and  came  on  deck,  and 
walked  aft — Jack  Hurst,  the  well  man  was  so  dead  asleep, 
I  couldn't  waken  him — and  seemed  to  be  trying  to  talk  to 
me.  He  was  apt  to  get  out  of  his  bunk  any  time,  and  we 
had  to  watch  him  very  closely.     I  did  all  I  could  for  him. 

"  The  first  mate  was  dead  and  dropped  overboard  by 
this  time,  and  so  were  three  of  the  men.  But  the  third 
night  after  we  got  to  sea  was  the  worst  time.  It  was  a 
little  after  two  in  the  morning,  and  I  had  the  wheel.  Jack 
Hurst  had  gone  below  o^while  to  look  after  the  sick  men, 
and  see  that  young  Perkins  was  in  his  bunk,  all  right. 
He  didn't  come  back  at  four  bells  to  relieve  me.  I  forgot 
to  tell  you  that  I  had  a  touch  of  the  fever  on  me  by  this 
time,  and  was  so  weak  I  could  hardly  stand.  I  couldn't 
have  kept  a-going  but  for  thinking  of  how  much  depended 
on  me. 

"Well,  Jack  Hurst  didn't  come  back,  and  I  began  to 
wonder  after  awhile  what  was  the  matter.  I  called  him, 
thinkin'  he  might  not  have  heard  me  strike  the  bell  aft ; 
but  he  gave  no  answer.  Then  I  got  scared — I  was  sick 
and  weak,  you  know — and  I  imagined  Jack  was  down  and  I 
was  left  all  alone.  I  couldn't  stand  that.  I  left  the  wheel, 
and  the  schooner  to  take  care  of  herself,  and  went  for'd. 

"  I'll  tell  you  how  those  trading  vessels  are  built,  so 
you'll  understand  what  happened.  They  have  a  cabin  aft 
and  forecastle  for'd,  like  coasters,  and  between  the  hold 
is  bulkheaded  off  into  a  sort  of  a  general  store-room. 
There  are  doors  from  the  forecastle  into  the  hold,  and  the 
same  from  the  cabin,  so  when  the  cargo  is  out  you  can 
walk  from  one  end  of  the  vessel  to  the  other  through  the 
hold.     Our  store-room  was  still  nearly  full  of  the  stuff  we 


A   STOKY   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  191 

took  out  for  barter — boxes  of  muskets  and  trinkets  and 
bales  of  dry  goods. 

"  Well,  I  went  for'd  and  looked  down  the  hatch.  I 
could  see  nothing,  but  someway  I  felt  afraid.  I  called 
Jack  Hurst  two  or  three  times,  an4  got»no  reply,  so  I  mus- 
tered up  my  courage  at  last  and  went  down  the  ladder. 
There  was  a  smoky  old  lantern  burning  that  just  did  give 
out  light  enough  to  see  by.  Jack  was  stretched  out  on  a 
chest  asleep.  Everything  was  quiet ;  even  the  sick  men 
were  still  in  their  sleep.  I  looked  into  the  lad's  bunk,  and 
he  was  gone. 

"  I  waked  Jack  Hurst  up  quick,  but  he  could  tell  noth- 
ing about  the  boy.  He  said  he  had  been  asleep  but  a  min- 
ute, and  he  knew  Perkins  was  in  the  bunk  just  before  he 
dropped  off.  I  knew  he  hadn't  come  on  deck,  so  we  com- 
menced looking  for  him.  We  hunted  everywhere  in  that 
forecastle  and  couMn't  find  him — under  the  lower  bunks, 
into  all  the  bunks,  behind  the  chests,  even  in  the  chests, 
and  he  was  nowhere.  Jack  and  I  finished  the  search,  and 
stopped  and  stared  at  one  another.  If  he  was  as  much 
mystified  and  scared  as  I  was  he  felt  mighty  queer. 

"  Then  I  happened  to  notice  that  one  of  the  doors  into 
the  hold  was  open  a  little  crack,  and  I  took  the  lantern 
and  went  there,  Jack  following  me.  I  opened  the  door 
and  stepped  in.  The  first  thing  I  saw  was — ugh  !  I  can't 
forget  how  he  looked.  There  was  the  lad  squatted  down, 
stark  naked,  jammed  in  between  two  bales  of  goods,  hold- 
ing his  hands  out  in  front  of  him  as  if  he  was  trying  to 
keep  something  off.  His  face  was  turned  up,  and  he  was 
staring  right  at  me.  O,  he  looked  awful !  I  ran  out  in  the 
forecastle,  and  Jack  told  me  afterward  I  took  a  step  or  two 
up  the  ladder  and  fainted  away.  • 

"  The  next  I  knew  I  found  myself  lying  on  deck  aft,  and 
Jack  had  the  wheel.  He  had  pulled  me  on  deck,  and  had 
got  the  body  up,  too.  We  buried  it  in  the  morning.  It 
was  still  doubled  up  and  so  stiff  we  had  to  lash  the  arms 
and  legs  down  on  the  plank." 


192  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

Johnson, — "  What  come  o'  the  schooner,  so  weak- 
handed  ?  " 

Morris, — "  The  men  got  well,  and  I  ran  back  to 
Mungo  Park  Town,  and  traded  out  the  rest  of  the  goods. 
Then  we  went  to  E-iverpool,  sold  the  nuts,  shipped  three 
new  men,  and  sailed  for  Boston," 

Smiley. — "  You  must  'a  made  a  pot  o'  money." 

Morris. — "  The  owners  paid  me  captain's  wages,  and 
offered  to  let  me  keep  the  command  of  the  schooner." 

Captain  of  Forecastle, — "  That  was  mighty  mean  in 
'em." 

Morris, — "  It  was  all  I  was  entitled  to." 

Johnson. — **  Why  didn't  you  take  the  schoonet  ?  " 

Morris. — "  For  good  reasons." 

Boatswain's  Mate. — "  Johnson,  keep  down  your  cu- 
riosity. A  yarn's  a  yarn,  and  you've  no  right  to  go"* 
back  of  it,'* 

"  Morris,  you  have  got  the  gift  o'  gab,  and  you  knows 
how  to  work  a  reckonin',  by  your  own  story.  If  you're  no' 
more  nor  a  topman  it's  your  own  ch'ice," 

Morris  got  up  and  left,  Johnson  began  to  talk  about 
the  Flying  Dutchman,  As  that  is  commonly  the  close  of 
a,  stance  among  seamen,  I  think  we  had  better  follow 
Morris's  example  and  escape  the  tedious  old  tale. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


NEXT  morning  La  Hembrilla  was  out  of  sight.  Captaiiif" 
Merritt  shared  the  vexation  felt  by  all,  but  gave  up' 
the  chase  as  hopeless  and  had  the  ship's  head  turned  back 
again  to  the  westward.  It  was  his  intention  to  return  and 
cruise  off  the  mouth  of  the  Cobre,  watching  his  opportuni- 
ties to  get  information,  while  prepared  to  act  should  the 
occasion  come.  After  a  few  days'  watching  he  meant  to 
run  along  the  coast  for  some  distance  to  the  west,  to  seek 


A   8T0EY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  193 

for  news,  and  to  return  occasionally  to  the  river  at  night, 
in  hope  of  catching  the  schooner  off  her  guard  at  anchor. 
It  was  also  his  intention  to  send  a  boat  expedition  up  the 
river  at  an  early  day,  for  he  thought  it  possible  that  the 
schooner  might  be  caught  in  that  way.  However,  his  ex- 
pectations were  not  great :  a  man  of  Hackett's  repute  for 
acuteness  would  hardly  shut  himself  up  in  a  place  easy  of 
access,  as  was  the  Cobre.  Captain  Merritt  was  convinced 
that  La  Hembrilla  had,  not  very  far  away,  a  snug  hiding 
place  ;  and  to  find  it  and  attack  her  therein,  before  she 
was  frightened  away  by  the  hovering  man-of-war,  was 
his  chief  aim. 

The  wind  continued  light  and  was  exceedingly  variable, 
so  that  after  a  hard  day's  work,  the  Flying  Fish  at  dark 
was  still  several  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  river. 

The  air  was  so  pleasant  and  the  breeze  so  light,  that 
the  ward-room  officers  availed  themselves  of  the  captain's 
permission  to  smoke  in  the  starboard  gangway ;  and,  bring- 
ing up  chairs  from  below,  seated  themselves  comfortably 
inside  of  the  rail,  forward  of  the  mainmast. 

The  night  was  very  dark,  and  a  light  veil  of  clouds 
overspread  the  sky,  concealing  the  stars.  It  might  nearly 
as  well  for  sailing  purposes  have  been  calm  ;  but  now  and 
then  faint  breathings  of  the  air  were  felt,  which,  though  too 
weak  to  do  more  than  gently  ruffle  the  water  for  a  few 
moments,  still  sufficed  to  keep  steerage  way  on  the  ship. 
The  water  was  so  still  that  its  only  sound  was  a  faint  lap- 
ping under  the  bows  and  counter,  as  the  sloop  sunk  and 
rose  on  the  ground-swell.  Around  the  horizon  was  a 
broad  band  of  blackness,  which  faded  away  above  into  the 
lighter  darkness  of  the  sky,  and,  below,  extended  out  upon 
the  sea,  surrounding  them  with  its  gloom.  To  a  man 
entirely  alone,  the  silence  and  darkness  would  have  been 
oppressive,  if  not  appalling  ;  but  the  comfortable  party  of 
officers  felt  the  advantage  attendant  on  human  companion- 
ship, and,  beyond  a  casual  remark  upon  sitting  down,  paid 
no  further  attention  to  their  situation.  There  was  only 
9 


194  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

one  thing  which  could  be  clearly  seen,  and  that  was  what 
caused  remark.  The  water  was  in  a  peculiarly  brilliant 
phosphorescent  condition,  and  was  swarming  with  fish. 
The  fish  were  all  darting  about  as  if  in  play,  their  swift 
and  devious  courses  marked  by  lines  of  fire.  The  efiect 
was  wonderfully  beautiful.  The  patterns  of  the  intersect- 
ing lines  charged  like  those  of  a  kaleidoscope,  and  though 
without  their  geometric  order  and  variety  of  hue,  were 
more  interesting.  Old  lines  of  glowing  light  would  pale 
and  fade  away,  only  to  be  succeeded  by  new  ones  with 
fresher  brilliancy.  Occasionally,  a  sudden  rush  of  the  fish 
would  convert  the  water  into  a  volume  of  soft  golden  radi- 
ance in  which  swam  the  ship.  It  was  a  striking  display 
of  submarine  fireworks. 

The  officers  naturally  fell  to  talking  about  La  Hem- 
brilla,  conjecturing  her  hiding-place,  admiring  her  beauty, 
and  chafing  at  the  speed  which  made  her  safe.  Hartley 
and  Garnet  had  told  already  about  the  near  view  they  had 
had  of  the  schooner  from  the  Virginia,  but  they  were  now 
asked  so  many  questions  that  the  slightest  details  of  their 
knowledge  were  brought  out. 

Mr.  Briggs  suggested  as  a  means  of  capture  that  Dr. 
Bobus  should  fill  some  very  thin  hollow  shot — he  had 
heard  of  their  use — with  chemicals  that  would  evolve 
deadly  gases  on  contact  with  the  air,  and  that  a  few  be 
fired  into  La  Hembrilla,  when  next  they  succeeded  in  get- 
ting her  in  range.  Dr.  Bobus  thought  there  would  be 
a  practical  difficulty  in  making  the  metal  of  such  projec- 
tiles of  just  the  proper  thickness,  but  believed  that  the 
hollow  shot  would  be  a  formidable  weapon  if  filled  with 
gunpowder  and  if  a  lighted  port-fire  could  be  stuck  firmly 
into  the  hole  just  before  firing.  In  such  a  case  the  shot 
might  be  lodged  in  the  hull  of  the  schooner,  where  it 
would  remain  till  the  port-fire  caused  an  explosion  that 
would  blow  her  up. 

So  they  talked  on,  till  Hartley  remarked  that  he  was 
reminded   by  the  yellow  lights  in  the   water  of  a  queer 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  195 

dream  he  had  the  night  before.  He  was  asked  to  tell  it, 
and  began  without  hesitation. 

"  I  can't  imagine  what  put  it  in  my  head,  and  I 
can't  remember  how  it  began.  You'll  have  to  be  satisfied 
with  a  part  of  a  dream,  and  that  is  as  near  nothing  as  any- 
thing can  get  without  reaching  it. 

"  I  thought  I  was  in  a  yellow  ship  in  the  Yellow  Sea,  and 
the  crew  were  yellow  Portuguese  and  Chinamen  and  mu- 
lattoes.  I  don't  recollect  being  called,  but  I  was  dressing 
myself  at  night  in  a  state-room  painted  yellow.  I  got 
through  in  the  quick  easy  way  in  which  we  work  in  dreams, 
and  went  up  a  yellow  pine  ladder  to  a  yellow-painted 
quarter-deck.  I  thought  it  was  blowing  a  gale,  and  was 
lightenii  g  so  continuously  that  the  whole  sky  appeared 
yellow.  The  waves  were  combing,  and  there  was  so  much 
phosphorus  in  them — just  like  the  water  to-night — that  they 
made  long  rolls  of  yellow  light.  I  found  the  officer  of  the 
deck  standing  by  the  yellow  fife-rail,  with  a  yellow  oil-skin 
on,  and  a  yellow  brass  trumpet  in  his  hand.  He  handed 
me  a  yellow  order-book,  and  I  was  about  to  take  the 
trumpet,  when,  presto  !  he  changed  instantly  to  a  great 
golden  snake  covered  with  glittering  scales,  and  hanging 
fifty  feet  down  from  the  main-yard,  around  which  he  had 
caught  a  turn  with  his  tail.  His  head  was  sticking  out 
toward  me,  about  at  right  angles  to  his  body,  and  his  big 
eyes  were  like  blazing  topazes.  He  seemed  hungry.  His 
mouth  was  wide  open  and  his  teeth  looked  horrible — a  long 
curved  row  of  sharp  fangs  as  yellow  as  gold.  I  threw 
the  morning  order-book  down  his  throat  and  woke  up." 

"  Didn't  you  yell^  oh  ?  "  asked  Briggs. 

The  paymaster  spoke  up  :  "  Any  one  who  shall  pun,  or 
attempt  to  pun,  or  who  shall  entice  or  attempt  to  entice 
others  to  pun  or  attempt  to  pun,  or  who — " 

"  I  won^t  do  it  again." 

"  Better  not,  Mr.  Briggs,"  said  the  doctor.  "  The  pun 
is  the  lowest  form  of  wit,  and  the  easiest." 

"  Mr.  Hartley,  perhaps  your  liver  is  a  little  torpid,"  he 


196  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

continued.     "  A  good   dose   of  blue   mass  will  save   you 
from  such  afflictions  for  some  time  to  come." 
**  No,  I  am  perfectly  well." 

"  Relish  your  meals,  eh  ?    Don't  feel  a  bad  taste  in 
your  mouth  in  the  morning,  eh  ?  " 
"  No,"  said  Hartley  decidedly. 

*'  Preliminary  attack  of  the  green-eyed   monster,  Mr. 
Hartley.     A  contusion  is  always  yellow  at  first,  you  know." 
Bobbins  broke  out  coarsely,  "  Haw !  haw !     That's  it, 
Doc.     You  hit  the  nail  on  the  head." 

"  Maybe  it's  a  vision  of  gold  dollars,  Hartley,"  said  the 
paymaster. 

Briggs. — " '  Her  lips  were  red,  her  looks  were  free, 
Her  locks  were  yellow  as  gold  : 
The  night-mare  Life-in-Death  was  she  ' — 
I  forget  the  rest." 

Garnet,  who  saw  that  Hartley  was  annoyed  at  what  he 
thought  light  references  to  his  sacred  love,  spoke  up: 
"  You  wouldn't  feel  so  much  like  joking,  gentlemen,  if  you 
bad  to  stand  a  breach  of  promise  suit." 

"  What !  How  ?  Why  ?  Tell  us  about  it,"  exclaimed 
the  party. 

"Hartley  can  explain  if  he  will,  but  I  shouldn't  feel 
like  it  if  I  were  in  his  place."  This  had  the  effect  of 
silencing  the  jocose  crowd.  Briggs  took  Garnet's  remark 
without  a  single  grain  of  salt,  and  for  a  good  while  after 
Hartley  received  unnecessary  pity  from  the  sympathetic 
young  man.  Bobbins  and  the  paymaster  were  partly 
mystified  and  partly  suspicious  of  a  hoax  ;  altogether,  each 
thought  it  safest  for  himself  to  drop  the  subject.  Bobus 
and  McKizick,  with  more  experience  and  insight,  readily 
guessed  that  the  subject  was  a  delicate  one. 

Hartley's  goings  ashore  in  New  York,  and  the  various 
signs  of  the  disease  of  love  which  he  had  displayed  since, 
had  attracted  the  attention  of  his  messmates.  In  Santa  Cruz 
the  officers  had  called  on  the  Dewhurst  family,  and  had  no- 
ticed still  more.     They  had  seen  that  Hartley  was  usually 


A   8T0KY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVT.  197 

there  when  they  arrived,  and  that  he  stayed  after  they  went 
away ;  and  he  could  not  entirely  conceal  in  their  presence  his 
preference  for  Mary.  But  they  did  not  know  of  the  engage- 
ment yet,  and  felt  free  to  joke  him  at  will.  A  spoony  oiRcer 
is  always  a  fair  butt,  though  an  engaged  one  receives  more 
consideration,  partly  because  the  lady  is  involved,  partly 
because  publicity  is  commonly  supposed  to  end  romance. 

Dularge  had  been  quite  taken  with  Mary's  appearance, 
and  occasionally  condescended  to  express  his  approval  of 
her  in  a  manner  that  made  Hartley  long  to  thresh  him ;  but 
he  wisely  allowed  himself  to  be  governed  by  the  prudence 
of  Garnet,  who  insisted  that  he  had  no  right  to  take  notice 
of  the  young  fellow's  conceited  puffing. 

Dr.  Bobus  was  a  good  talker,  and  to-night  he  was  in  the 
vein.  The  rallying  of  Hartley  reminded  him  of  one  of  his 
own  early  experiences,  which  he  now  proceeded  to  relate. 

"  My  friends,  you  are  all  bachelors  except  Mr.  McKizick  : 
he  and  I  are  the  only  married  men  in  the  mess.  But  I  was 
once  a  bachelor  myself,  and  I  remember  enough  of  that 
heathen  condition,  to  know  how  you  feel.  You  consider 
an  engagement  to  marry  as  a  sort*  of  self-immolation,  or 
rather  like  signing  very  disagreeable  articles  for  life.  Just 
think  of  being  engaged  to  two  young  women  at  one  time." 

"  Why,  Doctor !  Surely  that  was  another  man  !  Give 
us  the  story.  Doctor  !  "  exclaimed  the  party. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  you  shall  hear  the  story.  I  was  the 
guilty  man. 

"  It  was  a  good  many  years  ago,  when  I  was  still  young, 
and  I  was  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Washington,  on  this 
same  station.  You  know  that  the  Spanish  settled  Pensa- 
cola.  There  have  always  been  a  few  of  their  good  families 
there,  and  generally  some  American  residents  looking  out 
for  the  main  chance.  Whenever  one  of  our  vessels  put  in, 
the  officers  were  sure  of  a  pretty  gay  time.  We  ran  in 
with  the  Washington  in  the  spring  of  1801,  and  stayed  a 
month.  There  was  a  member  of  a  Philadelphia  firm  there 
at  the  time,  with  his  family,  come  down  for  health,  and  to 


198  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

attend  to  business  interests.  I  shall  call  him  Mr.  Brown— 
and  by  the  way,  Mr.  Hartley,  I  don't  want  you  to  rehash 
this  story  for  the  Lyceum — I've  read  your  scribblings,  sir 
— for  the  people  concerned  are  alive,  or  were  at  the  last  I 
heard  of  them,  and  they  might  think  hard  of  me. 

"  This  Mr.  Brown  had  a  beautiful  daughter  named  Emily, 
whom  I  met  on  shore.  To  come  to  the  point  at  once,  I 
fell  in  love  with  her — very  much  in  love — and  as  I  knew 
my  time  was  short,  and  that  I  should  not  be  likely  to  have 
another  opportunity,  I  resolved  to  advance  my  suit  as  rap- 
idly as  possible.  I  had  heard  of  the  young  lady  before  in 
Philadelphia,  how  lovely  she  was,  and  how  much  attention 
she  received,  and  how  coolly  and  easily  she  repulsed  all 
assaults  upon  her  heart.  Perhaps  you  may  think  it  was 
rather  presumptuous  in  me  to  aim  so  high — -such  a  beauti- 
ful girl,  and  with  such  a  repute  for  coldness — but  I  had  no 
great  hope  of  success,  and  then,  you  know,  every  young 
male  American  may  try  as  high  as  he  pleases.  Besides, 
gentlemen,  I  was  not  counted  an  ill-looking  man  at  thirty, 
though  I  am  now  rather  the  worse  for  wear. 

"  There  was  an  old  hidalgo  in  Pensacola  at  that  time, 
Don  Ambrosio  de  Yriarte  y  Llaca;  and  he  had  a  pretty 
daughter,  too.  By  a  singular  coincidence,  her  name  was  in 
Spanish  what  Miss  Brown's  was  in  English — Emilia.  I 
met  her  when  I  met  Emily.  I  hope  you  all  know  me  too 
well  to  ascribe  anything  like  bragging  to  me,  but  it  is  a 
fact,  that  while  I  fell  in  love  with  Emily,  Emilia  fell  in  love 
with  me.  There  was  no  mistaking  it ;  all  the  officers  of 
the  ship  saw  it  and  joked  me  on  my  good  luck,  as  they 
called  it.  Honestly,  it  was  a  great  annoyance,  and  worse, 
to  me.  Everywhere  we  met,  I  would  find  her  dark  eyes 
fixed  sorrowfully  on  me,  and  she  seemed  never  so  happy 
as  when  talking  to  me  in  her  pretty  broken  English.  I 
received  several  invitations  to  his  house  from  Don  Ambrosio, 
who  was  about  the  only  person  in  Pensacola  ignorant  of  the 
truth.  He  was  a  very  fine  old  man,  with  the  most  lofty  cour- 
tesy you  could  imagine,  and  so  dignified  that  I  suppose 


A    STOKY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  199 

nobody  dared  to  tell  him.  I  knew  he  would  never  accept 
a  plebeian  son-in-law,  and  besides  I  had  no  inclination  to 
take  a  place  in  his  family ;  so  I  excused  myself,  and  kept 
away  from  his  house  whenever  I  could.  Still,  I  had  to  go 
sometimes ;  and  I  met  Emilia  at  other  places. 

"  I  was  fortunate  in  one  respect.  Emily  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  admirers,  and  here  she  had  none — not  one  of 
our  officers  was  smitten  besides  myself — so  she  naturally 
listened  better  to  me  than  she  might  have.  I  couldn't  see 
that  I  made  any  progress,  and  I  was  almost  discouraged  ; 
but  I  was  getting  along  very  well,  as  events  showed. 
Things  went  on  so,  I  paying  every  possible  attention  to 
her  and  she  as  cool  and  careless  to  all  appearance  as  ever, 
till  the  day  before  we  were  to  sail  for  the  Havana.  That 
night  the  residents  gave  us  a  little  farewell  ball,  and  I 
went  ashore  determined  to  finish  the  business,  one  way  or 
another. 

"  I  did  not  enjoy  the  dancing  very  well,  for  I  was  nerv- 
ous, and  all  the  time  getting  more  so.  Between  the  dances, 
I  drank  more  wine  than  my  custom  allowed,  but  I  did  not 
feel  the  efi*ect  of  it  in  the  least.  I  am  now  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  the  usual  stimulus  was  merely  retarded  by  my 
mental  depression.  I  tried  to  get  a  chance  to  speak  apart 
with  Emily,  but  she  was  in  demand  and  something  always 
prevented ;  so  that  it  was  after  midnight  when  the  oppor- 
tunity came.  She  was  engaged  to  me  for  one  dance  and 
Emilia  for  the  next.  Instead  of  leading  her  on  the  floor  I 
begged  a  word  with  her  in  private.  She  graciously  con- 
sented, and  I  took  her  into  an  adjoining  room,  a  kind  of 
library,  temporarily  vacant,  and  proposed.  She  referred 
me  to  papa ;  by  which  I  understood,  of  course,  that  if  he 
offered  no  objection  she  accepted  me.  I  knew  Mr.  Brown 
well  enough  to  be  sure  he  would  let  Emily  choose  for  her- 
self, and  I  felt  very  much  pleased.  About  that  time,  the 
extra  quantity  of  wine  which  I  had  drunk  began  to  work 
on  me,  I  think.  We  sat  there  talking  till  the  dance  was 
nearly  done,  when  Emily  asked  me  to  go  look  for  my  next 


200  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

partner.  She  said  she  would  sit  still  and  might  not 
be  missed,  she  did  not  feel  like  dancing  just  then.  I 
remember  the  smile  with  which  she  uttered  the  words ; 
gentlemen;  it  was — well,  well. 

"  I  obeyed  her  instructions,  of  course,  but  while  waiting 
for  the  dance  to  come  to  an  end,  in  the  exuberance  of  my 
feelings  I  drank  three  glasses  of  sherry.  I  looked  about 
for  Emilia  and  could  not  find  her,  so  I  thought  I  was  free, 
and  would  go  back  to  Emily.  Who  should  be  in  the  library 
but  Emilia,  herself,  all  alone  ?  She  spoke  to  me  in  her 
pretty  way  :  *  I  no  dance  dis  time,  I  tired.  You  talk  to 
what  you  call  Mees  Emilia,  Doctor  Bobus.'  And  I  did 
talk  to  her  with  a  vengeance.  I  am  sorry  I  begun  this 
story,  gentlemen  ;  I  am  vexed  to  remember  my  weakness." 

"  Go  on,  doctor  !  Too  late  to  stop  now  !  Unfair  to  dis- 
appoint us  now  !  " 

"  Please  to  lay  what  follows  more  to  the  salmon  than 
to  me. 

"Emilia  looked  so  sad  and  talked  so  sorrowfully  about 
my  going  away,  that  I  began  to  pity  her.  As  the  liquor 
got  into  my  head  I  wondered  why  she  would  not  do  for  a 
wife  as  well  as  Emily  ;  and  finally,  I  forgot  Emily  entirely, 
and  told  Emilia  I  loved  her,  and  made  a  fool  of  myself 
generally.  She — I  don't  believe  there  was  ever  such  a 
happy  woman  in  the  world  before.  She  was  as  kind  as 
an  American  girl  would  be  after  a  five  years'  engage- 
ment. It  did  not  take  long  for  me  to  cool  down  under 
that.  I  sobered  fast ;  and,  realizing  what  I  had  done, 
b^gah  to  feel  very  much  disgusted  at  myself  and  her,  too. 
I  had  no  right  to  feel  so,  for  I  was  entirely  to  blame  ;  and 
she,  I  fancy,  was  only  behaving  as  Spanish  girls  usually  do 
in  such  cases.  But  I  could  not  help  it.  I  tried  to  get  away 
several  times,  but  it  was  always  'Ay,  Eduardo' — she  had 
my  name  pat  in  Spanish  already — *no  leave  your  poor 
Emilia  yet.  Emilia  no  see  Eduardo  no  more,  four,  five  year, 
till  we  marry,'  and  then  she'd  color  up  and  look  happy. 
Poor  girl  !     I  hadn't  sense  enough  to  tell  her  it  was  the 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVT.  201 

sherry  Edward  Bobus  had  drunk,  and  not  himself,  had  pro- 
posed to  her.  At  last  I  did  manage  to  get  away,  and  I 
went  straight  aboard  and  turned  in,  a  most  miserable  man. 

"  When  I  awoke  in  the  morning  the  ship  was  getting 
under  way.  I  recollected  the  dilemma  I  was  in,  and  was  as 
wretched  as  ever.  While  we  were  standing  down  the  bay, 
I  wrote  a  note  full  of  affection  to  send  back  to  Emily  by 
the  negro  who  piloted  us  out.  Actually,  gentlemen,  when 
I  thought  of  Emilia's  disappointment,  I  hadn't  the  heart  to 
bring  it  on  so  soon,  and  instead  of  writing  her  a  letter  of 
explanation  and  apology,  I  copied  the  note  to  Emily,  put 
them  in  separate  envelopes,  and  directed  them." 

"  I  know.  You  directed  them  crossways,"  put  in 
Briggs,  eagerly. 

"  Not  so,  Mr.  Briggs.  A  want  of  clerical  accuracy  was 
never  among  my  failings. 

"  We  ran  across  to  the  Havana,  and  there  found  a 
brig  about  to  go  to  Pensacola.  I  wrote  to  both  the  girls 
again  from  there,  and  sent  each  a  box  of  fine  French  can- 
dies. My  guilty  indiscretion  about  the  notes  had  only  com- 
mitted me  more  deeply.  I  had  concluded  I  would  have 
to  keep  it  up,  and  trust  to  luck  to  get  out  of  the  scrape. 
The  brig  came  back  before  we  sailed,  but  brought  me  no  let- 
ter from  either  girl.  I  thought  that  was  strange,  and  it  was 
stranger  still  when  two  or  three  more  vessels  came  in  during 
the  next  month,  and  still  failed  to  bring  me  any  word. 

"  At  the  end  of  two  months  the  Washington  was  ordered 
back  to  Pensacola  for  some  purpose,  and  I  prepared  for  the 
worst.  I  got  ashore  as  soon  as  I  could  after  the  anchor 
was  down,  and  went  down  to  Mr.  Brown's.  He  and  his 
family  had  gone  home.  Then  I  went  to  Don  Ambrosio's, 
and  had  an  interview  with  Emilia.  She  came  in  the  room 
looking  pale  and  thin,  and  the  first  word  she  said  was,  *  Ay 
Eduardo,  you  no  love  poor  Emilia.  Why  you  write  same 
carta  k  Emily  y  Emilia  ?  '  That  showed  me  at  once  how 
it  was  :  I  had  entirely  forgotten  all  along  that  the  two 
girls  were  close  friends.  I  drew  from  Emilia  how  it  all 
9* 


202  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

came  out.  It  appeared  that  neither  could  keep  her  secret, 
and  each  confessed  to  a  lover  aboard  the  Washington,  and 
notes  and  candy.  The  similarity  made  them  curious,  and 
my  name  came  out.  Just  imagine  my  feelings  to  hear  it ! 
and  from  her. 

"  And  Emilia  said  if  I  would  love  her,  she  would  be  a 
good  wife,  and  go  with  me  anywhere,  that  Emily  was  angry 
so  I  could  not  marry  her.  I  felt  like  a  mean  scoundrelly 
thief,  who  had  picked  up  lost  property  he  did  not  need, 
and  had  failed  to  return  it  to  the  owner  when  he  had  a 
chance.  It  was  the  worse  I  ever  felt  in  my  life.  One  good 
has  come  of  it,  anyhow  ;  I  have  never  since  allowed  myself 
to  be  the  least  overtaken  with  wine. 

"  Well ! — I  explained  it  all  to  Emilia  the  best  I  could, 
and  told  her  I  was  unworthy  and  unfit  to  be  her  husband, 
and  that  she  would  die  in  our  cold  Northern  climate,  and 
that  her  father  would  never  consent.  I  had  to  tell  her  how 
I  came  to  propose,  and  that  I  didn't  love  her.  Poor  girl ! 
It  seemed  almost  to  strike  her  down.  I  did  what  I  wouldn't 
have  done  for  one  of  our  conventional  American  girls — I 
thought  it  the  best — the  Spanish  are  more  theatrical  in 
every-day  life  than  we — I  kneeled  down  and  begged  her 
forgiveness  for  the  wrong  I  had  done  her.  She  bade  me 
good-by  ;  ^  a  Dios,  Eduardo  ;  Dios  guarde  ' — the  poor 
thing  could  not  say  more — she  broke  down — and  I  had  to 
run  away." 

They  were  all  silent  when  Bobus  ceased,  but  in  a  minute 
Robbins's  coarse  voice  arose  "  I  bet  the  present  Mrs.  Bobus 
never  got  the  straight  of  that  yarn." 

"  Lieutenant  Robbins,  I  have  already  regretted  telling 
the  story,  and  you  make  me  repent  it  still  more.  The  per- 
son affronts  me  who  interferes  in  my  family  aifairs,  where 
he  has  no  concern." 

Robbins  walked  off  in  a  huff. 

The  doctor  went  on:  "  I  will  finish  the  story,  gentlemen. 
I  married  Miss  Emily  Brown  three  years  later,  when  our 
cruise  was  up." 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  203 

The  party  showed  their  interest  and  pleasure  by  various 
remarks,  Hartley  politely  thanking  him.  Then  they  fell 
silent,  and  no  one  seeming  to  have  anything  to  say,  they 
all  got  up  to  go  below,  each  picking  up  his  chair  to  carry 
it  down.  The  procession  of  chair-bearers  had  started,  each 
moving  slowly  and  carefully  in  the  darkness ;  when  their 
attention  was  suddenly  arrested  by  something  of  a  more 
stirring  nature  than  stories  of  the  past. 

A  pale  green  light  trembled  in  the  air,  illuminating  thie 
sails  in  a  strange  and  ghastly  manner,  and  making  the 
lofty  spars  and  delicate  lines  of  the  mazy  cordage  stand 
out  distinctly  clear  against  the  sky  above.  At  the  same 
time  a  soft  fizzing  sound  was  heard.  After  the  first  start 
of  surprise,  each  officer  knew  instantly  what  it  w^as :  some 
vessel  very  near  them  was  burning  one  of  the  colored  fire- 
vrorks  used  at  sea  for  making  signals  in  the  night.  They 
instinctively  put  down  their  chairs  and  turned  to  the  point 
from  which  the  light  came.  A  single  glance  showed  a 
schooner  exactly  to  windward  not  a  hundred  yards  away. 
She  was  standing  to  the  westward  in  a  course  parallel  to 
that  of  the  Flying 'Fish  ;  but  the  great  amount  of  canvas 
she  had  spread  urged  her  forward  at  a  double  rate  of  speed. 
To  the  sloop's  people,  their  own  vessel  was  stationary, 
while  the  schooner  was  slowly  creeping  past. 

The  schooner  was  not  a  stranger :  the  whole  watch  at 
once  recognized  La  Hembrilla.  So  near  was  she  that  the 
voices  of  men  talking  on  board  were  perfectly  audible, 
every  word  being  clearly  understood.  A  party  of  five  or 
six  persons  stood  aft  by  her  taffrail :  one,  a  gigantic  man, 
holding  out  the  signal  which  burned  with  a  hissing  noise 
and  a  vivid  flame,  while  they  all  talked  together.  The 
light  shone  with  a  bright  green  radiance,  on  the  tall  spars 
and  immense  sails  of  the  schooner,  and  revealed,  standing  in 
the  gangway  and  gazing  to  the  northeast  like  their  supe- 
riors aft,  a  silent  group  of  men,  perhaps  fifteen  or  twenty 
in  number. 

"I  bet  them  mulatty  'ounds  'as  hall  gone  to  sleep," 


204  LOYE   AFLOAT. 

came  across  the  water  in  a  gruff,  grumbling,  deep  bass 
voice,  with  a  cockney  accent. 

"  Wa-al,  no,"  answered  a  keen,  thin,  decisive  twang 
from  the  group  by  the  taffrail ;  "  they  ain't  had  time  yet, 
I  guess." 

"  Time  enough,"  retorted  the  first.  "  The  lights  should 
halways  be  ready  to  hanswer  hany  time." 

"  They  haven't  ever  failed  us  yet,"  replied  the  second 
voice.  "  You're  too  hard  on  the  blacks,  Jeames.  There's 
good  men  amongst  our  blacks." 

"  That's  said  for  the  'earin  o'  the  niggers  in  the  gang- 
way," replied  the  other,  with  a  coarse  laugh. 

"  Jeames  Arrowson,"  said  the  second  voice,  sharply  ; 
"  none  of  that.  Recollect  your  place."  Then  the  speaker 
went  on  more  mildly,  "  I  said  no  more  than  is  jest,  Jeames. 
I'm  consarned  to  have  to  show  our  light,  for  that  darned 
cruiser  may  be  around  here  for  all  I  know." 

"  Pshaw  !  "  replied  Arrowson,  laughing  again  ;  "  'e 
couldn't  'it  the  broadside  of  a  barn." 

"  His  shot  come  plenty  close  enough  last  Sunday,  off  the 
p'int  o'  Pescador,  anyhow.  He  spiled  the  looks  o'  the. 
new  mainsail,  a  mile  off.  And  every  time  he  gets  a  chance 
to  shoot  at  the  little  gal  he'll  shoot  better." 

There  was  more  of  the  talk,  but  no  one  had  time  to 
listen  longer.  At  the  first  gleam  of  the  light  everybody 
on  the  sloop's  deck  was  amazed,  and  it  was  a  wonder  that 
no  exclamation  arose  to  betray  her  presence  to  the  pirates. 
Piscipline,  and  the  quick,  eager  warnings  of  the  petty  offi- 
cers, kept  the  men  still. 

McKizick  without  any  hesitation  walked  up  to  Dularge 
and  relieved  him.  The  word  was  quietly  passed  for  the 
watch  to  take  off  their  shoes,  gq  below,  clear  away  the  star- 
board battery,  and  commence  firing.  Thp  guns  were  for- 
merly always  kept  loaded  at  sea,  and  McKizick  hoped  the  ship 
would  remain  undiscovered  long  enough  to  enable  hin^  tp 
deliver  the  broadside  they  contained.  He  knew  the  signal 
would,  if  riot  extinguished,  burn  enough  longer  to  make  the 


A   STORY  OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  205 

schooner  a  good  target,  and  he  hoped  to  get  in  a  disabling 
shot.  Captain  Merritt  was  called,  and  he  appeared  on  deck 
in  a  twinkling,  barefoot,  and  still  clad  in  his  night-gown, 
which  was  stuflfed  into  his  trousers  at  the  waist.  By  day- 
he  would  have  presented  an  uncommonly  stout  appearance. 
The  men  were  all  awake  now,  working  hard  to  get  the 
hammocks  out  of  the  way  and  the  guns  cast  adrift.  The 
captain  sent  messenger  after  messenger  to  the  division  offi- 
cers for  them  to  make  haste.  "  Fire  as  soon  as  you  can," 
"  Open  without  delay,"  was  the  word.  "  Every  second's 
precious,"  he  said  to  the  first  lieutenant ;  "  it's  a  wonder 
he  hasn't  seen  us  already." 

Below  everything  was  in  extreme  silent  confusion.  The 
battle  lanterns  had  not  been  lighted,  and  the  guns'  crews 
were  striving  bewildered  in  the  complete  darkness,  to  do 
everything  at  once,  quickly  and  without  noise. 

La  Hembrilla  kept  on  reaching  ahead  till  the  sloop  was 
well  on  her  port-quarter,  and  then,  either  the  changed  po- 
sition of  the  vessel,  or  a  chance  look,  or  some  accidental 
noise  overheard  from  the  sloop,  betrayed  the  danger  to  the 
pirates.  The  flaring  signal  was  cast  overboard,  its  light 
instantly  extinguished,  and  a  thick  veil  of  darkness  fell 
between  the  two  vessels.  La  Hembrilla  was  gone,  vanished, 
flown  like  a  thought,  swallowed  up  in  blackness.  A  hun- 
dred imprecations  arose  from  the  disappointed  seamen,  who 
missed  the  light  and  guessed  the  cause  of  its  disappearance. 

McKizick  threw  off  all  disguises.  "  Light  the  battle 
lanterns  !  "  he  roared.  "  Look  alive,  men  !  On  deck  the 
sail-trimmers,  and  get  the  t'gal'n't  stunsels  ready  for  set- 
ting !  "  A  number  of  the  navy  night  signals  were  brought 
up,  and  several  of  them  were  lighted  at  once.  A  man  was 
sent  on  each  topsail  and  top-gallant  yard-arm  to  hold  out 
one  of  these  bright  illuminators.  They  brought  La  Hem- 
brilla in  sight  again,  but  barely  revealed  her,  for  she  was 
now  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away.  Firing  was  almost  guess- 
work, for  the  schooner  was  so  indistinct  the  gun  captains 
could  scarcely  keep  their  eyes  upon  her  ;  and  to  get  an 


206  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

aim  even  approximating  to  correctness  was  very  difficult. 
However,  they  did  their  best.  The  guns  flashed  redly  into 
the  night  and  boomed  with  no  uncertain  sound,  though  the 
aim  was  none  of  the  most  sure.  A  dozen  shots  were  dis- 
charged before  the  captain  gave  orders  to  cease  firing,  con- 
vinced of  its  inutility.  Very  soon  afterward  the  pirate 
ran  out  of  sight. 

Burke  went  over  to  where  the  captain  and  first  lieuten- 
ant were  in  deep  consultation.  "  Yon  is  two  lights  ashore, 
just  lit,  sir,"  he  reported  to  McKizick.  Both  turned  to 
the  quartermaster  and  asked  him  to  point  them  out.  He 
extended  his  arm  broad  off  the  weather  quarter,  where 
shone  the  two  lights,  not  with  the  color  and  vividness  of 
the  first  seen,  but  with  a  steady  yellow  gleam,  as  a  candle 
would  shine  from  a  window  across  a  dark  prairie.  One 
light  was  higher  than  the  other  and  nearly  over  it. 

"  They  must  be  having  a  fandango  ashore.  They're 
up  later  than  usual,"  said  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  It's  no  dancing,  sir,"  replied  the  quartermaster. 
"  Them  lamps  has  something  to  do  with  the  schooner." 

"  Very  good,  Burke,"  said  McKizick  good-humoredly  ; 
**keep  an  eye  on  'em,  and  report  when  they  go  out." 

The  breeze  had  freshened  in  the  meantime,  and  the 
sloop  was  now  moving  at  the  rate  of  two  miles  an  hour. 
While  all  the  events  had  been  passing  since  the  discovery 
of  the  schooner  not  more  than  fifteen  minutes  had  elapsed. 
That  vessel  now  added  to  their  wonder,  and  to  the  number 
of  her  mysterious  actions.  She  burned  a  firework  like  th  > 
first,  except  that  it  was  red  instead  of  green,  and  was  tL. 
time  displayed  in  such  a  cunning  manner,  that  she  herself 
remained  unseen.  The  men  were  sent  to  the  guns  again  and 
allowed  to  fire  at  the  light ;  but  their  uncertainty  as  to  its 
distance,  joined  to  the  fact  that  it  was  a  good  deal  like 
shooting  at  a  star,  made  their  aim  as  dubious  as  before. 
At  any  rate  the  pirates  kept  the  light  burning  for  full  five 
minutes. 

McKizick  thought  Burke's  idea  about  the  two  lamps 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  207 

was  very  probably  a  correct  one;  but  the  captain,  who  had 
a  theory  assigning  the  concealment  of  La  Hembrilla  to  a 
large  lagoon  near  a  village  to  the  eastward,  disagreed  with 
hira.  He  ordered  the  course  to  be  kept,  west  one-half 
south,  intending  to  come  to  off  the  Cobre.  A  visionary 
hope  of  finding  the  schooner  some  morning  lying  quietly 
near,  defenceless,  at  atichor,  and  unable  to  escape,  still  pos- 
sessed him.  >  The  most  practical  must  sometimes  hope  for 
the  unlikely. 

So  they  ran  on  slowly,  all  hands  remaining  on  deck 
because  they  would  be  soon  needed  to  anchor  the  ship. 
With  such  a  warm  fragrant  air  and  such  soft  planks  as  the 
Fish  had  in  her  spar-deck  sometimes,  there  were  few  of  the 
men  but  preferred  the  sky  to  a  blanket.  The  officers 
asked  permission,  and  resumed  their  pipes  while  waiting. 

After  awhile — -an  hour  or  so — Burke  reported  that  the 
lights  ashore  had  been  doused. 

*'  Are  you  sure  we  didn't  run  them  down  ? "  asked 
McKizick. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  one  was  high  up,  and  they  both  went  out 
together."  This  confirmed  McKizick's  opinion,  and  he 
spoke  of  it  to  Captain  Merritt ;  but  that  officer  thought 
their  distance  was  now  too  great  to  leave  even  Burke's 
eyesight  infallible,  and  adhered  to  his  own  opinion.  Of 
course  the  ship  ran  in  the  current  of  his  mind,  or  sailed 
before  the  gale  of  his  will,  or,  in  direct  language,  went 
where  he  wished.  She  kept  on  after  the  pirate — at  least 
the  captain  thought  so,  and  meant  so  ;  but  more  correctly, 
she  continued  to  thrust  her  long  head-booms  into  the 
bank  of  blackness  to  the  west.  Very  slowly  by  this  time. 
The  catspaw  had  died  away,  and  the  puffs  came  fainter  and 
fainter.     Still,  she  forged  ahead,  minding  her  helm. 

The  phosphorescence  of  the  water  grew  dimmer.  The 
flashes  still  appeared  to  show  the  lightning-like  passage 
of  the  swift  fishes  ;  but  they  were  paler,  their  radiance  was 
thinner  and  more  evanescent.  At  last  they  ceased,  and 
the  unrelieved  darkness  grew  painful.     They  were  off  the 


208  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

mouth  of  the  river,  whose  fresh  waters  were  incompatible 
with  the  presence  of  the  luminous  animalcula. 

The  breeze  left  them  at  last,  and  a  dead  calm  prevailed. 
The  sails  flapped  backward,  flapped  forward,  to  the  regular 
rocking  of  the  ship,  with  a  hollow,  monotonous,  tiresome 
noise.  They  could  hear  the  surf  breaking  on  the  beach,  a 
slight  washing  sound,  unlike  the  usual  sustained  and 
mellow  music,  yet  very  distinct.  It  seemed  the  nearer  for 
its  lowness,  its  warning  whisper  giving  the  idea  of  treacher- 
ous reefs  close  at  hand.  Mr.  McKizick  walked  over  to  the 
starboard  gangway,  where  a  man  was  gazing  intently  and 
silently  into  the  gloom.  Few  could  have  recognized  even 
an  old  acquaintance  with  certainty  on  such  a  night,  trust- 
ing to  the  eyes  alone,  and  in  this  case  there  was  nothing 
to  guess  at  but  the  back  of  a  black  lump ;  but  the  first 
lieutenant  was  seldom  at  fault.  "  How's  the  wind,  Mr. 
Thick  ?  "  asked  he. 

"Up  and  down,  like  a  dog's  fore-leg,  sir,"  replied  that 
worthy. 

"  Going  to  have  it  any  better  ?  " 

"  Not  before  morning,  sir  ;  not  enough  to  lift  a  sky- 
scraper." 

McKizick  went  away,  and  Thick  renewed  his  seer- 
like inspection  of  night  and  darkness.  "  By  the  hokum  !  " 
said  he. 

The  captain  reluctantly  gave  up  his  hope  of  any  imme- 
diate change  in  the  weather,  and  determined  that,  as  the 
the  current  of  the  Cobre  was  sweeping  the  ship  out  to  sea, 
he  would  at  once  carry  out  his  intention  of  anchoring. 
This  was  done  with  no  ceremony  or  delay,  the  anchor  being 
dropped  off  the  bows  without  stopping  to  shorten  sail. 

Then  the  light  sails  and  the  courses  were  handed,  but 
the  topsails  were  merely  clewed  up  and  their  yards  left  at 
the  mast-heads.  The  captain  was  thinking  again  of  the 
idea,  to  which  he  clung,  of  finding  La  Hembrilla  within 
gunshot  some  morning  ;  and  he  meant  to  be  ready  to  give 
her  a  quick  chase. 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  '  209 

When  the  furling  was  done,  the  men  lay  down»^quietly 
from  aloft.  Some  dropped  on  deck  and  went  to  sleep  ; 
some  gathered  in  little  knots  and  talked  together  in  a  still 
and  drowsy  manner.  Then  the  pipe  sounded  their  dismis- 
sal and  the  lookouts  were  posted.  In  five  minutes  the 
deck  was  deserted.     It  was  after  midnight. 

Silence  and  darkness  were  Garnet's  outer  companions 
of  the  watch.  Within  his  faithful  bosom,  Isabel  Terrell 
divided  the  space  with  Uncle  Sam. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


HARTLEY  had  the  morning  watch.  The  light  of  dawn 
had  already  appeared  in  the  east  when  he  relieved 
Garnet.  "  Well,  Will,"  he  inquired  sleepily,  "  anything 
in  sight  ?  " 

"  No.  Here's  the  order  book.  You're  to  get  the  ship 
tinder  way  if  there's  any  wind.  Now  let  me  get  to  my 
bunk.     I'm  nearly  dead  for  a  nap.'* 

"No  sleepier  than  I  am,"  growled  Hartley  after  his 
friend's  retreating  figure. 

He  was  sleepy,  for  his  four  scant  hours  had  seemed 
scarcely  more  than  a  minute's  nap,  and  had  hardly  rested 
him.  He  was  in  a  very  bad  humor  with  the  service  as 
long  as  he  felt  fagged;  but  after  awhile  the  bullet-headed, 
dark-woolled  youth  of  African  descent  who  was  his  body- 
servant,  appeared  coming  from  the  galley,  to  his  eyes  a 
charming  Ganymede,  and  bearing  a  cup  of  *  Navy  mud,' 
alias  cofi'ee,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  service  in 
morning  watches.  The  decoction  was  not  good  to  the 
taste,  but  it  was  reviving  to  the  body  and  cheering  to  the 
mind.  Under  its  inflence  Hartley  was  able  to  enjoy  the 
sunrise. 

At  first  the  sky  was  covered  with  massings  of  dark  blue 
cloud,  gatherings  of  the   night's  pall,  except  in   the  east, 


210  «  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

where  there  appeared  low  down  a  single  little  spot  of  sil- 
ver vapor.  As  the  sun  rose  up  toward  the  edge  of  the 
water  the  sea  on  that  side  took  the  splendid  color  of  fresh 
bronze,  the  dull  clouds  were  tinged  with  a  sombre  rud- 
diness, and  the  spot  of  silver  changed  and  grew  brighter 
and  brighter,  till  it  glowed  like  a  drop  of  molten  gold. 
For  awhile  it  was  the  brilliant  centre  of  light.  The  sun  ap- 
proached nearer  the  horizon  and  the  ruddy  tinges  changed 
to  tints  of  salmon  and  saffron  and  amber.  The  little  spot 
lost  its  individuality  in  a  mass  of  its  own  color  which 
drifted  over  it.  Long  shafts  and  pencils  of  amber  and 
gold  light  glanced  across  the  sky,  contrasting  beautifully 
with  the  dull  blue  of  the  shaded  parts  of  cloud.  The 
sea  changed  gradually  to  silvery  reflections  on  its  usual 
blue  ;  and  last  of  all  the  sun  lifted  his  eye  over  the  rim  of 
the  horizon  to  take  a  preparatory  peep  at  the  world,  and 
commonplace  day  was  fairly  ushered  in.  It  put  him  in  a 
good  humor  with  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  service. 

The  ship  lay  directly  off  the  mouth  of  the  Cobre  river, 
perhaps  two  miles  from  the  shore.  With  the  glass  Hartley 
could  see  clearly  up  the  stream,  to  where  it  curved  away  to 
the  west,  hiding  itself  in  winding  among  the  bold  hills 
between  which  it  ran.  Nothing  was  in  the  river,  and  not 
a  sign  of  life  could  be  detected  on  the  shores.  To  all  out- 
ward appearance  they  might  have  been  the  discoverers  of 
the  beautiful  coast  before  them.  Hartley  felt  the  longing 
impulse  which  prompts  us  to  examine  and  explore  the  new 
and  strange,  to  enjoy  the  bridal  pleasure  of  unveiling 
nature's  virgin  face.  But  it  could  be  no  more  than  long- 
ing with  him,  for  while  he  gazed  through  the  spy-glass, 
he  saw  the  palms  begin  to  wave  their  long  arms,  and 
directly  the  water  in  shore  was  darkened  with  a  steady 
breeze  off  the  land.  He  had  the  messenger  passed,  and,  by 
the  time  the  wind  got  out  to  the  Flying  Fish  all  was  ready 
for  heaving  up  the  anchor.  The  men  walked  cheerfully 
round  the  capstan,  and  the  anchor  came  up  easily,  leaving 
its  hard  bed  without  the  usual  clinging  delay.     The  sails 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  211 

were  trimmed,  and  under  a  cloud  of  canvas  the  ship  again 
pursued  her  way  toward  the  west.  Then  Hartley  set  the 
men  to  work  at  the  daily  scrubbing  and  cleaning  the  im- 
maculate man-of-war  received.  When  Captain  Merritt 
came  up  from  his  cabin  everything  was  in  ship-shape  again. 

All  day  long  they  fanned  onward,  making  but  slow  pro- 
gress. As  the  sun  rose  higher  it  killed  the  morning 
Btrenjrth  of  the  breeze.  At  six  bells  in  the  evenino:  the 
captain  told  the  first  lieutenant  to  let  the  hands  skylark. 
"  I  want  to  keep  them  contented,  and  they  have  had  enough 
lately  to  worry  them  a  good  deal,"  he  said. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  was  the  response,  and  so  on  the 
pipe  was  heard  attracting  universal  attention.  The  boat- 
swain's mates  bawled  :  "  Do  you  here  there,  fore  and  aft — 
skylark  .^  " 

It  seems  rather  a  whimsical  thing  to  order  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  grown  men  to  set  to  playing  like  boys ;  but 
the  crew  of  the  Flying  Fish  did  not  regard  it  in  that 
manner.  To  them  it  was  merely  a  permission,  and  the 
recreation  was  very  proper  in  their  eyes.  A  genuine 
sailor-man  is  always  a  boy  in  many  respects.  He  can't 
keep  his  clothes,  he  is  highly  irreverent,  he  needs  look- 
ing after  and  correcting,  and  he  loves  to  play. 

The  men  were  instantly  full  of  fun  and  laughter.  The 
customary  restraints  removed,  they  felt  as  delighted  as 
scholars  let  out  of  school ;  and  they  went  into  all  kinds  of 
available  mischief  with  zest.  Games  were  started  every- 
where. Leap-frog  was  a  favorite  one,  and  they  showed 
their  agility  by  springing  neatly  over  the  bowed  mess- 
mate with  seldom  a  trip  or  a  fall,  in  spite  of  the  motion 
of  the  ship.  In  the  game  as  they  played  it  only  one  man 
went  down,  others  vaulting  over  him  in  a  steady  stream, 
and  each  was  bound  to  give  him  a  spur  with  the  heel  as 
he  passed  his  back.  An  old  seaman  stood  by  as  umpire. 
If  any  one  failed  in  the  kick,  or  touched  the  frog  except 
with  hands  and  heel,  he  had  to  be  frog.  If  a  man  fell 
through  accident,  before  he  could  rise,  or  the  stream  of 


212  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

leapers  be  checked,  several  more  would  tumble  over  him 
in  a  heap  ;  which  was  immense  fun. 

Another  game  they  played  was  Bear.  A  sailor  went 
down  on  his  hands  and  knees  in  the  middle  of  the  fore- 
castle, and  a  thick  folded  tarpaulin  was  laid  on  his  back. 
He  was  the  Bear.  The  keeper  stood  by  his  side,  holding 
in  his  right  hand  a  rope's  end  with  which  to  defend  him, 
and  confined  to  a  circle  of  about  ten  feet  in  diameter  by 
another  rope,  the  end  of  which  he  held  in  his  left  hand. 
The  other  players  watched  every  chance  to  strike  the  bear 
with  their  ropes,  and  the  keeper  tried  to  fight  them  ofiT. 
He  could  strike  any  one  he  could  reach  without  letting  go 
his  tether,  but  if  in  his  excitement  he  did  let  it  go,  all 
hands  were  at  liberty  to  thresh  him  until  he  had  caught  it 
up  again.  Any  one  he  succeeded  in  striking  had  to  be 
bear,  and  bear  became  keeper.  This  game  was  greatly 
enjoyed,  and  "  One,  two,  three,  my  bear  is  free  "  was  often 
heard  as  the  keeper  announced  all  ready  to  begin. 

Practical  jokers  roamed  through  the  ship,  seeking 
whom  they  might  devour.  One  band  made  it  their  espe- 
cial business  to  catch  and  bump  every  marine  who  showed 
his  head  on  the  spar-deck.  The  bumping  was  done  by  four 
men,  each  of  whom  seized  one  of  the  marine's  limbs.  He 
was  then  swung  backward  and  forward,  and  his  seat  of 
honor  brought  into  concussion  with  the  cable  bitts,  like  a 
battering  ram,  with  a  very  moderate  amount  of  gentleness. 

But  all  other  fun  grew  insignificant  when  the  old  boat- 
swain's mate  was  seen  advancing  up  the  gangway,  holding 
the, struggling  monkey  in  both  hands  and  calling  gleefully, 
"  All  hands  ketch  monkey !  "  The  men  swarmed  on  the 
forecastle,  roaring,  "  Let  him  loose  !  "  "  Put  him  on  the 
main  stay  !  "  "  Carry  him  on  the  foreyard  !  "  "Let  him 
go  !  "  "  Set  him  on  the  galley  funnel ! "  "  Give  him  a 
start !  "  and  a  hundred  other  directions.  The  old  man 
calmly  put  Jocko  in  the  fore  rigging.  He  grinned  defiance 
to  all  for  one  instant,  and  then  mounted  aloft  with  all  the 
nimbleness  of  his  native  woods. 


A   STOET   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  213 

This  was  the  monkey  which  the  boatswain  and  the 
midshipmen  had  bought  with  the  remnant  of  their  money- 
after  Thick's  horse  trade  in  Santa  Cruz.  As  he  was  a 
joint-stock  monkey  it  was  nobody's  business  to  care  for 
him,  and  he  did  not  receive  much  attention  after  the 
first  novelty  had  worn  off  and  he  had  bitten  most  of 
the  stock-holders  in  their  vain  efforts  to  caress  him. 
He  was  falling  into  neglect,  and  getting  very  thin  and 
lean  in  his  cage,  when  a  deputation  of  seamen,  unable  to 
permit  a  pet  to  suffer,  waited  on  the  company  repre- 
sented by  Larkin,  the  caterer  of  the  midshipmen's  mess, 
with  a  view  to  purchasing.  Larkin  would  not  sell  the 
beast,  but  cheerfully  let  the  men  have  him  to  care  for  and 
feed.  After  that  he  fared  well  and  throve.  All  the  seamen 
in  the  ship  took  charge  of  his  diet,  regulating  it  by  giving 
him  the  best  they  had  as  long  as  he  would  take  it.  At  first 
he  would  eat  voraciously  till  his  stomach  was  crammed, 
then  his  "  penam  bags,"  as  the  men  called  his  mouth- 
pouches,  would  be  filled  almost  to  bursting,  and  then  he 
would  look  sad  because  it  was  impossible  to  stow  away 
any  more.  He  speedily  got  fat,  and  became  very  particu- 
lar in  his  tastes.  His  education  was  intrusted  to  a  mizzen- 
topman  named  Burson,  who  had  made  a  study  of  the  mon- 
key, and  by  common  consent  knew  more  about  teaching 
them  than  any  one  else  in  the  ship.  "  Jimmy  Burson  for 
it,"  the  men  would  say  in  rapturous  admiration,  after  seeing 
some  new  trick  performed.  "He's  been  shipmates  with 
'em.  He  knows  how  they  feel.  He  can  get  in  with  'em  if 
anybody  can."  And  Burson  really  was  very  successful.  So 
much  so  that  the  animal  was  soon  allowed  to  range  freely 
about  the  ship,  and  the  middies  got  to  speaking  of  him 
proudly  as  *  our  monkey.'  *  Our  monkey '  was  a  mischievous 
and  villainous  little  beast.  When  he  got  the  run  of  the  ship 
he  soon  explored  everything,  and  by  the  time  he  began  to 
feel  at  home  he  commenced  his  tricks.  He  would  snatch 
a  man's  cap  off  his  head  and  run  out  on  a  yard-arm  with 
it,  where   he  was  over  the  water.     There   he  would  sit 


214:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

secure  and  begin  to  pull  the  cap  to  pieces  with  tooth  and 
nail.  It  was  useless  to  go  out  after  it,  because  he  would 
instantly  drop  it  overboard  and  run  away.  The  men  soon 
found  that  the  only  way  to  get  their  property  back  was  to 
ask  Burson,  who  had  taught  Jocko  to  bring  him  anything, 
to  call  in  the  monkey. 

Jocko  got  in  the  paint  pots  on  one  occasion,  and  orna- 
mented himself  in  a  striking  manner.  Solomon  in  all  his 
glory,  or  a  wild  Indian  on  the  war-path,  was  not  to  be 
compared  to  him  then.  •  He  contracted  the  bad  habit  of 
chewing  tobacco,  and  nearly  killed  himself  by  eating  the 
cigar  stumps  he  fished  out  of  the  kids,  where  they  had  been 
thrown  by  the  officers.  It  became  unsafe  to  leave  a  book 
or  paper  of  any  kind  in  the  chairs  at  the  smoking  place, 
for  he  loved  to  make  a  litter  with  paper.  This  propensity 
was  displayed  in  the  destruction  of  the  boat  signal  card. 
The  first  lieutenant  had  had  the  ship's  painter  make,  on  a 
large  sheet  of  cardboard,  a  complete  copy  of  all  the  flags 
to  be  used  in  recalling  the  different  boats  to  the  ship, 
and  this  sheet  was  tacked  up  on  the  gun-deck  against  the 
bulkhead  of  the  cabin  pantry.  Jock  was  quickly  attracted 
by  the  bright  colors,  and  tried  to  get  it  down.  It  was 
about  a  foot  higher  than  he  could  jump,  however ;  and 
after  several  good  efforts  he  retired.  But  he  had  not  given 
it  up.  He  would  recollect  it  several  times  every  day,  and 
comeback  to  try  again;  and  all  the  while  his  jumping 
powers  improved  with  the  practice.  The  men  saw  it,  but 
they  would  not  for  the  world  have  interfered.  It  was  only 
a  good  joke  to  them  ;  their  sympathies  were  all  with  the 
monkey.  After  a  week's  perseverance  his  faithfulness  and 
frequent  efforts  were  crowned  with  success.  He  came  up 
the  captain's  ladder  one  afternoon,  holding  the  card  in  his 
hand,  and  grinning  with  delight.  He  seemed  perfectly 
aware  that  he  had  done  wrong,  for  he  darted  to  the  cross- 
jack  stay  instantly,  and,  in  spite  of  the  encumbrance  of  the 
card,  which  was  too  much  sail  for  him,  ran  nimbly  up  on 
three  legs.     Then  he  got  on  the  weather  crossjack  yard- 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  215 

arm,  and  proceeded  with  the  air  of  an  experimenter  to  tear 
the  card  into  very  small  pieces. 

His  greatest  feat  of  all  had  been  on  the  day  before  the 
men  had  their  skylark.  The  captain  had  brought  a  large 
bunch  of  green  bananas  in  Santa  Cruz,  and  hung  them  in 
his  state-room,  intending  to  eat  them  as  they  ripened.  Sin- 
gularly, none  appeared  to  ripen.  On  inspection  the  bunch 
proved  to  be  much  smaller  than  at  first,  and  there  were 
marks  on  the  main  stem  that  showed  where  fruit  had  been 
detached.  The  captain  was.  mystified,  and  said  nothing 
about  it.  There  was  a  small  air-port  in  the  room,  which 
he  kept  open  for  ventilation,  and  through  this  Sir  Monk 
had  made  his  entrances  and  exits.  On  the  day  of  discovery, 
the  captain,  who  was  sitting  reading  in  the  outer  cabin, 
thought  he  heard  a  noise  in  the  state-room.  He  went 
there,  opened  the  door,  and  looked  in  upon  a  scene  of  de- 
struction. There  sat  the  monkey  on  the  bed,  eating  a  half- 
ripe  banana  and  looking  happy.  Captain  Merrit  stepped 
in  quickly,  and  shut  the  air-port  before  Jocko  could  get  to 
it.  Then  he  cleared  up  the  room.  The  monkey  had  opened 
a  drawer  in  the  desk,  taken  out  and  torn  up  a  considerable 
amount  of  stationery,  broken  the  sealing  wax  into  bits  as 
small  as  possible,  and  unrolled  the  captain's  commission. 
This  was  on  parchment  and  too  strong  to  tear,  so  it  had 
evidently  been  a  subject  of  study.  The  result  of  Jock's 
cogitation  was  that  he  made  up  in  the  shaving  mug  a 
paste  of  tooth-powder,  mucilage,  and  ink,  with  which  he 
had  plastered  the  commission.  The  captain  threshed  him 
with  a  ruler,  and  let  him  out  yelling. 

When  the  boatswain's  mate  let  the  monkey  loose  all 
the  foretop-men  and  a  number  of  the  other  seamen  started 
aloft  after  him,  while  a  good  many  went  up  the  main  rig- 
ging to  head  him  off  in  case  he  crossed  the  stays.  Then 
ensued  a  lively  time.  The  men  were  active  and  determined 
to  catch  the  monkey.  Jocko  a  great  deal  more  nimble,  and 
fully  as  anxious  not  to  be  caught.  He  was  full  of  resources. 
When  he  seemed  hopelessly  penned  and  everybody  looked 


216  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

to  see  him  grabbed,  he  would  suddenly  find  some  smart 
unexpected  way  out  of  the  scrape.  The  men  followed  him 
fearlessly  into  the  dizziest  places  aloft,  but  catch  him  they 
could  not.  Those  on  deck  roared  with  delight  and  appre- 
ciation at  each  new  escape,  and  those  aloft  chased  him  all 
the  harder.  At  last  McKizick  saw  that  the  chasers  were 
becoming  annoyed  at  failure  and  reckless  in  their  efforts, 
so  he  stopped  the  pursuit  by  having  the  hammocks  piped 
down. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


T 


HEY  wafted  onward  that  night  at  a  snail's  speed — a 
water-snail's — with  the  provokingly  light  airs.  Garnet 
had  the  deck  in  the  early  morning,  and  no  sooner  did  he 
send  the  lookouts  aloft  after  day  was  fairly  established, 
than  a  sail  was  reported.  She  lay  ahead,  and  so  far  away 
that  neither  her  course  nor  her  rig  could  be  determined. 
Later,  the  wind  died  away  as  on  the  preceding  morning, 
faint  flurries  of  attempted  breeze,  which  ruffled  the  water 
for  a  few-minutes  and  passed  away  to  leeward,  remaining 
their  whole  dependence  for  progress.  At  eight,  a  better 
sustained  and  stronger  cat's-paw  than  common  set  them 
ahead  a  mile  or  so,  placing  them  so  much  nearer  the  strange 
sail  that  they  were  enabled  to  make  out  that  she  was  a  brig 
standing  on  the  same  course  as  was  the  Flying  Fish.  For 
hours  the  two  vessels  maintained  their  distance,  sometimes 
one  gaining  by  a  current  of  air  which  did  not  touch  the 
other ;  and  again,  the  loser  making  up  her  loss  and  some- 
thing over  in  the  same  manner.  At  three  o'clock  matters 
were  changed. 

A  gentle,  but  promising  breeze  had  for  some  time  been 
working  out  over  the  water  toward  the  sloop,  from  the 
northeast  quarter.  As  it  had  to  encounter  and  overcome 
the  inertia  of  the  masses  of  still  heated  atmosphere  which 
it  met,  its  progress  was  slow.    The  dark  roughening  of  the 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  217 

glassy  water  that  marked  its  advance  crept  out  toward  the 
ship  so  gradually  that  the  patience  of  the  young  sailors  on 
board  was  wellnigh  exhausted ;  and  some  of  them  began 
to  look  on  the  coming  wind  as  an  enemy  that  did  not 
mean,  after  all,  to  keep  its  promise  of  helping  them  along. 
Still,  it  did  come.  Slowly  and  steadily  it  advanced,  till  at 
three  in  the  afternoon  the  ship  felt  its  influence,  and  started 
forward  with  new  life.  Again  the  waters  made  a  sough 
against  the  bows,  and  met  in  curling  little  whirlpools  in 
the  wake  as  the  ship  gently  careened,  and  too  gently 
glided  onward  once  more. 

The  brig  ahead  lay  meanw^hile  in  a  dead  calm  about 
four  miles  away,  off  a  projecting  wooded  point,  from 
which  she  was  distant  perhaps  a  mile.  She  had  not  a 
breath  of  wind,  but  lay  rocking  on  the  swells,  flapping  her 
canvas,  and  turning  her  head  successively  to  every  point 
of  the  compass.  The  Flying  Fish  kept  her  place  on  the 
edge  of  the  advancing  breeze,  with  which  she  moved  for- 
ward, at  the  rate  of  about  a  mile  an  hour. 

The  glare  of  the  fervid  sun  upon  the  waters  was  so 
strong,  and  the  mirage-producing  power  of  the  heated  air 
so  great,  that  it  was  impossible  from  the  ship  to  see  much 
of  the  brig  and  her  motions  with  the  naked  eye.  But  as 
the  two  drew  nearer,  the  glass  lent  its  usual  assistance  to 
great  advantage.  At  four  they  were  within  three  miles 
of  each  other. 

As  the  brig  was  the  only  sail  in  sight,  she  was  the 
centre  of  interest,  and  every  glass  in  the  ship  was  con- 
stantly fixed  upon  her.  It  was  impossible  that  any  impor^ 
tant  motion  of  hers  should  escape  detection  and  attention* 

A  little  after  four.  Garnet  and  Hartley,  who  had  been 
taking  turns  in  the  use  of  the  best  spy-glass,  saw  three 
boats  leave  the  point,  and  pull  off  toward  the  brig.  This 
they  had  reported  to  Captain  Merritt.  The  captain  came 
up  to  see  for  himself.  The  rumor  spread  instantly  through 
the  ship,  and  in  a  little  while  everybody  was  on  the  spar- 
deck,  officers  and  men  trying  to  make  out  what  was  not  to 
10 


218  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

be  seen  with  any  satisfaction,  and  indulging  in  sanguinary- 
hopes. 

It  took  the  three  boats  about  fifteen  minutes  to  reach 
the  brig.  They  were  seen  to  pause  for  awhile,  so  near 
together  as  to  be  indistinguishable ;  and  then  they  sepa- 
rated, took  positions  surrounding  the  brig,  and  paused 
again.  Then  a  puff  of  smoke  rose  up  over  one  of  the 
boats,  and  all  three  rowed  up  to  the  brig,  and  were  lost  to 
sight,  unrelieved  against  her  black  sides.  The  interest  on 
board  the  ship  was  now  intense,  but  beyond  a  little  blue 
smoke  which  slowly  rose  above  the  merchantman  and  van- 
ished in  the  air,  nothing  was  seen  or  heard  to  indicate  the 
character  of  the  expedition  they  had  been  watching.  Ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  after  the  boats  closed  with  the  brig, 
they  were  seen  to  leave  her  again,  and  take  position  in  line 
before  her  bowst  Their  very  slow  advance,  and  the  fact 
that  she  kept  her  place  near  them,  showed  that  they  were 
towing  her  in  shore. 

"  McKizick,"  asked  the  captain,  taking  the  glass  from 
his  eye,  "  what  do  you  think  about  it?" 

"  There's  no  manner  of  doubt,  sir.  If  it  isn't  La  Hem- 
brilla*s  gang,  it's  another.  I'd  like  to  take  in  an  investigat- 
ing committee  in  the  boats." 

"  Pshaw,  man,  you're  too  old  to  go  in  a  boat.  Send  a 
midshipman,"  replied  the  captain  with  a  twinkle. 

"  I  don't  feel  like  I'd  ever  be  too  old  to  go  in  charge 
of  a.  boat  expedition,"  said  the  lieutenant  earnestly  ;  "  and 
I  hope  you'll  give  me  this  one — if  you  mean  to  send  in." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you,  McKizick,"  answered 
the  captain  seriously ;  "  but  I  cannot  afford  to  risk  my 
first  lieutenant  in  a  petty  affair  like  this.     Don't  ask  it." 

McKizick  looked  vastly  discontented,  but  with  wis- 
dom kept  his  mouth  shut  until  he  could  speak  in  a  good 
humor.  "  Who  will  you  put  in  charge,  captain  ? "  he 
asked  finally. 

"  Mr.  Hai  tley.  Now,  sir,  we  are  not  over  two  miles 
and  a  half  off,  and  the  breeze  holds — I  think  it  freshens,  if 


A    STOEY    OF    THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  219 

anytliiiig.  We  had  better  get  ready.  Have  the  third  and 
fourth  cutters  and  the  gig  manned  and  armed.  Let  the 
men  take  cutlasses  and  pistols,  only.  Put  six  marines  in 
each  cutter,  and  four  in  the  gig.  Send  Mr.  Hartley,  Mr. 
Briggs,  Mr.  Robbins,  and  the  surgeon,  and  three  of  the 
midshipmen  to  me,  first  thing." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  and  away  went  McKizick.  Directly  the 
officers  whom  the  captain  wished  to  see  were  all  before  him. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  am  going  to  send  you  in  the 
boats  to  get  that  brig."  The  middies  looked  at  each  other 
joyously  as  if  it  were  too  good  to  be  true,  but  the  others 
received  the  intelligence  quietly,  having  had  more  experi- 
ence. "  Mr.  Hartley,  you  will  go  in  the  third  cutter  in 
command  of  all.  Mr.  Briggs,  take  the  fourth.  Mr.  Rob- 
bins,  go  in  the  gig,  in  command  of  the  marines.  Mr, 
Larkin  will  have  charge  of  the  gig  and  act  under  Mr. 
Hartley's  orders.  You,  young  gentlemen  " —  indicating 
the  other  two  midshipmen — "  go  in  the  cutters.  Doctor, 
is  your  steward  a  capable  man  ? — does  he  know  anything 
of  surgery  ?  " 

"  Well — yes — "  admitted  Bobus,  whose  martial  spirit 
was  aroused,  and  who  wanted  to  go  himself,  "  that  is,  he 
is  pretty  well-informed;  but  he  is  hardly  equal  to  an 
emergency  like  this." 

*'  I'm  afraid  we  shall  have  to  risk  him  then,"  said  the 
captain  conclusively,  with  one  of  his  half-hidden  twinkles. 
"Now,  gentlemen,  this  is  a  small  service,  but  coolness  is 
necessary.  Use  your  heads,  and  control  the  men  all  you 
can.  Of  course  you'll  get  the  brig,  but  I  shan't  feel  satis- 
fied if  you  lose  any  men.  Mr.  Hartley,  lay  the  boats 
alongside  as  nearly  at  the  same  time  as  possible.  Use 
your  own  judgment  in  selecting  your  points  of  attack. 
Let  the  marines  cover  your  near  approach,  and  don't  open 
too  soon.  When  you  carry  her,  stand  out  to  meet  us ;  but 
if  you  need  immediate  assistance  send  a  boat. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  go  and  get  ready,  and  good  luck  to 
you."  .  -• 


220  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

In  ten  minutes  all  was  prepared,  and  the  three  boats 
lay  alongside  with  the  crews  in  them  waiting  with  tossed 
oars.  The  ship  was  buzzing  with  excitement,  the  men 
laughing  and  leaning  out  of  the  ports  and  over  the  rail,  to 
joke  and  talk  with  their  envied  messmates  in  the  boats. 
The  marines  were  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  lee  side  of  the 
quarter-deck,  Robbins,  full  of  importance,  rectifying  the 
alignment  of  his  sixteen  men  every  few  seconds.  Hartley 
and  the  other  officers  were  on  the  quarter-deck  fully 
armed,  each  wearing  his  sword,  with  a  pair  of  pistols  slung 
on  the  belt. 

The  Flying  Fish  was  now  within  two  miles  of  the  brig, 
and  the  pirates  in  the  boats  could  be  plainly  seen  working 
violently  at  their  oars. 

"  W^ll,  Hartley,"  said  McKizick  resignedly,  "  you've 
got  a  piece  of  my  work  to  do,  but  I  guess  you'll  do  it  as 
well  as  me.  The  captain  wants  you  to  shove  off  now.  He's 
afraid  there'll  be  extra  trouble  if  we  give  them  time  to 
tow  in  shore.  Drop  the  cutters  to  the  gangway  and 
stand  by  with  the  gig  !  Get  your  men  in,  Mr.  Robbins," 
he  commanded.  "Good-by,  Hartley.  Good  luck,  old 
fellow." 

Hartley  shook  hands  with  him,  bade  Garnet,  who  was 
at  his  side,  farewell,  ran  down  into  the  third  cutter,  and 
shoved  off.  His  boat  speedily  cleared  the  ship  and  shot 
ahead,  followed  by  the  fourth  cutter,  and  in  a  moment  after 
by  the  gig.  The  ship's  company,  without  orders  but  by  a 
common  impulse,  darted  into  the  lower  rigging  and  gave 
three  cheers.  The  boats  crews  answered  lustily  from  their 
oars,  and  the  seamen  on  board  cheered  again. 

A  little  way  from  the  ship,  Hartley  had  his  crew  lay 
on  their  oars  and  let  the  other  two  boats  range  up  close 
astern.  He  hailed  them  over  the  water :  "  Cutter  and 
gig  there  I  Keep  closed  up  in  line  within  a  boat's  length  ! 
Follow  me  in  !  Then  the  line  dashed  straight  onward 
again,  the  men  pulling  powerfully,  as  if  fearful  the  pirates 
would  escape  before  they  could  reach  the  brig.     Hartley 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMEKICAN   NAVY.  221 

made  his  crew  lessen  their  efforts,  for  he  wanted  to  keep 
them  fresh  ;  and  the  other  boats  had  to  follow  his  example 
to  avoid  crowding  into  him.  Still  they  went  along  at  a 
good  pace,  for  the  oarsmen  would  every  now  and  then 
quicken  the  stroke  in  spite  of  his  constant  watching. 

The  pirates  continued  to  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost 
to  tow  the  brig  to  the  shore,  until  the  boats  of  the  sloop 
were  within  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  Then  they  suddenly 
cast  off  the  towline  and  seemed  thrown  into  confusion  and 
undecided  what  to  do.  One  boat  actually  started  for  the 
shore,  but  returned  in  a  minute  ;  and  they  all  three  rowed 
back  to  the  brig  on  the  side  which  was  away  from  their 
enemies.  They  were  seen,  as  they  leaped  on  board,  thirty 
or  forty  in  number ;  and  they  disappeared,  hiding  behind 
the  rail.  The  man-of-war  boats  never  checked  their  course 
for  this,  but  pulled  straight  on. 

About  four  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  merchant- 
man, Hartley  stood  up  and  ordered,  "  Oars  !  "  The  men 
ceased  rowing,  sitting  with  horizontal  blades  and  glan- 
cing over  their  shoulders  at  the  near  enemy.  "  Come 
alongside  !  "  hailed  Hartley.  The  other  two  ranged  up, 
one  on  each  side,  and  near  to  him.  "  Now,  pay  attention  I 
The  gig  will  go  under  the  bows,  I'll  take  the  gangway, 
and  you,  Mr.  Briggs,  the  quarter — all  on  this  side.  We 
must  try  to  get  in  at  exactly  the  same  time.  Mind  that, 
men !  You  gigsmen  are  in  the  fastest  boat :  keep  back,  or 
you'll  be  cut  to  pieces  before  we  come  up.  Mind,  we 
want  to  go  alongside  together! — then  aboard,  and  to  work !" 
The  men  roared  out  one  irrepressible  hurrah.  "  Keep 
abreast  just  as  you  are  till  1  stand  up  /  then  each  boat  go 
to  her  place,  and  the  marines  open  fire  without  further 
orders.     Keep  abreast !  Give  way  !  " 

The  excited  seamen  could  not  restrain  themselves,  but 
disregarding  every  instruction,  bent  to  their  oars  uttering 
joyful  yells.  Fortunately  Larkin  was  able  to  hold  the 
small  crew  of  the  gig  somewhat  in  hand,  so  that  the  three 
boats  maintained  their  places  in  line. 


222  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

The  pirates  began  an  irregular  rapid  fire.  Bullets 
hummed  overhead,  skipped  on  the  water  dashing  up  spray, 
and  occasionally  struck  the  boats  themselves,  or  splintered 
the  blade  of  an  oar.  No  one  was  hurt,  however^  and  the 
singing  missiles  only  raised  the  men's  fierce  spirits  higher 
and  made  them  row  the  harder.  The  nearer  they  got,  the 
closer  did  the  flying  bullets  seem  to  graze;  but  not  a 
shot  was  returned  till  they  were  within  a  hundred  yards. 
Then  Hartley  stood  up,  and  the  marines  began  to  j^ep- 
per  away. 

The  men  at  the  oars  gave  one  wild,  shrill  cheer  to- 
gether, as  they  threw  on  the  supple  blades  their  whole 
strength.  They  toiled  silently,  but  like  giants,  their  faces, 
pale  with  tremendous  exertion,  their  eyes  glaring,  the 
sweat  rolling  down  their  gripped  jaws.  Hartley,  Briggs, 
and  Larkin  stood  up,  and  urged  them  on  with  excited 
words  and  waving  swords.  Such  a  speed  quickly  took 
them  over  the  dangerous  hundred  yards,  and  the  three 
wheeled  together  at  almost  the  same  instant,  darting 
alongside  to  their  appointed  places. 

Hurrahing  and  yelling,  the  seamen  sprung  over  the 
brig's  rail,  cutlass  in  hand,  and  threw  themselves  upon  the 
pirates,  who  were  scattered  about  the  deck  without 
organization.  Pistol-shots,  shouts,  cutlass  clashings,  and 
profanity,  made  a  promiscuous  din,  though  few  men  fell  in 
proportion  to  the  noise  and  savage  vigor  of  the  attack. 
In  a  moment  the  marines  followed  the  seamen  with  fixed 
bayonets. 

The  pirates,  who  had  lost  several  men,  were  dismayed 
at  the  fierceness  of  their  foe,  and  already  almost  yielding. 
They  ceased  their  weak  resistance  at  the  sight  of  the  new 
force,  and  fled  precipitately,  leaving  most  of  their  weapons 
behind.  Jumping  into  their  boats,  which  were  moored 
alongside,  they  cut  the  painters  and  shoved  ofi'in  a  hurry, 
while  the  sailors,  leaning  over  the  rail,  taunted  them  and 
slashed  at  them  viciously  with  their  cutlasses. 

"  Wictory  !  "  shouted  a  burly  Englishman.     "  Hurray, 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  223 

my  'arties,  and  a  hip  !  hip  !  Ilurray-y-y  ! "  Everybody 
stopped  to  join  in  that  magniloquent  crow. 

•  As  every  pistol  and  musket  was  empty,  the  pirates 
got  away  very  easily.  Robbins  had  the  marines  reload 
and  commence  "  firing-  by  file,"  but  it  took  some  time  for 
them  to  begin.  The  men  rushed  to  the  boats  and  com- 
menced to  jump  in,  all  for  following  the  pirates  up,  but 
Hartley,  remembering  the  captain's  injunction,  stopped 
them  with  decision. 

His  attention  was  quickly  called  to  a  conflict  on  the 
brig's  forecastle.  A  negro  man  stood  there  swinging  one 
of  the  windlass  bars  about  his  head,  thus  keeping  clear  a 
circle  around  which  stood  a  dozen  sailors,  cutting  at  him 
with  their  swords.  He  was  in  a  fair  way  to  come  to  grief 
for  the  crowd  of  seamen  was  increasing,  and  they  were  as 
angry  as  hornets.  Hartley  ran  forward.  "Step  back, 
men  !  "  he  ordered.  They  obeyed  him.  "  Put  down  that 
bar,"  said  he  to  the  darkey,  who  now  held  the  bar  raised 
threateningly,  while  he  glanced  about  the  ring  of  foes  with 
sullen  ferocity.  "  You'll  be  a  dead  man  in  five  minutes  if 
you  try  to  fight  it  out." 

"  Keep  cl'ar  o'  me  !  "  responded  the  negro,  sullenly. 

Hartley  saw  that  he  was  in  the  condition  in  which  the 
African  has  no  sense  left,  except  the  sense  of  obstinacy, 
and  that  he  would  die  before  he  would  give  up.  "  Drop 
the  bar  !  "  he  commanded  sternly.  The  negro  only  raised 
it  higher.  "  Grab  him  behind,  Lewis ! "  The  darkey 
whirled  around  to  strike  down  the  foe  expected  on  that 
side,  and  quick  as  a  flash  Hartley  sprang  upon  him.  Throw- 
ing his  arms  around  him  he  pinioned  him,  and  in  half  a 
minute  the  seamen  had  him  tied. 

Hartley  was  then  at  leisure  to  look  about  him.  The 
oflicers  and  crew  of  the  brig  were  all  lying  aft,  their  hands 
and  feet  bound  with  cruel  security.  It  took  but  a  few 
seconds  to  cut  the  ligatures  and  release  them,  but  not  one 
of  them  could  rise  till  the  sailor-men  restored  circulation 
in  their  limbs  by  hard  chafing. 


224  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

The  master  of  the  brig  was  in  a  great  hurry  to  get  up, 
and  attempted  it  so  soon  that  he  nearly  fell  over.  How- 
ever he  managed  to  totter  to  the  lieutenant.  "  Shake 
hands,  capting !  "  said  he  in  a  weak  voice :  *'  I've  got  to 
thank  you  for  this  brave  rescue.  -I guessed  aourjigwas 
pretty  considerable  tarnation  nigh  up,  for  awhile.  Ef  I'd 
ben  smart  I'd  a'  run  back  to  you  this  mornin'  ensted  of 
away  from  you.  I  hadn't  oughter  shaved  the  p'int  so  close 
— it  warn't  a  mite  smart  in  me,  but  I  was  in  a  hurry  to 
fetch  the  market,  and  everythin'  hed  ben  prosperous,  and 
I  was  countin'  more  on  the  spec  I  was  goin'  to  make  for 
the  owners  in  Bosting  than  anythin'  else.  I  tell  you  what, 
capting,  you  saved  my  owners  a  mighty  vallyble  cargo  in 
the  old  Mercutio,  and  I  reckon  you  saved  Hiram  Doolittle — 
that's  me." 

He  would  have  gone  on,  being  apparently  a  voluble  man 
under  any  circumstances,  but  Hartley  left  him  to  see  if 
any  of  the  men  had  been  hurt.  With  the  exception  of 
one  whose  arm  had  been  broken  by  a  bullet  and  another 
who  had  received  a  fearful  gash  in  the  leg  from  a  knife, 
none  were  seriously  wounded ;  though  bruises  and  slight 
cuts  were  very  common. 

By  this  time  the  breeze  had  reached  the  brig.  He  had 
the  towline  hauled  in  and  passed  out  aft  to  the  boats,  and 
then  stood  across  free  to  intercept  the  Flying  Fish.  He 
crossed  the  track  on  which  she  was  coming,  and  hove  to. 
The  sloop  swept  down  slowly,  backed  her  main-yard  near 
him,  and  hailed. 

On  board  the  Flying  Fish  all  hands  had  watched  the 
boats  go  in,  with  an  almost  agonized  interest.  When  the 
column  paused  while  Hartley  arranged  his  order  of  battle, 
they  cheered.  When  the  boats  started  in  such  fine  style, 
to  close  so  gamely,  they  cheered.  When  the  pirates 
opened  fire,  and  they  could  hear  the  popping  reports  of 
their  muskets,  and  see  the  curling  powder  smoke,  they 
cheered  again.  While  the  boats  made  their  last  spurt,  and 
the  marines  fired,  and  the  brig's  side  was  gained,  and  the 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  225 

attacking  party  clambered  on  board,  they  cheered  wildly 
'  and  continuously.  And  when  they  saw  the  boat  flag  Hart- 
ley had  bent  to  the  signal  halliards  rise  swiftly  to  the  peak 
iu  token  of  success,  w^hat  a  magnificent  crowning  cheer  of 
delight  they  gave  !  They  ran  about  the  spar-deck  shaking 
hands  and  rejoicing. 

Captain  Merritt  was  so  anxious  to  know  the  results  of 
the  expedition  that  he  would  not  w^ait  for  a  report,  but 
hailed.     "  Brig  ahoy  !  What  brig  is  that?  " 

He  felt  relieved  'when  Hartley,  who  knew  what  caused 
his  haste,  stepped  to  the  brig*s  quarter  himself  and  answered, 
"Mercutio  of  Boston.     We  are  all  right,  sir." 

"  Come  on  board,  sir ! " 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir." 

He  was  soon  on  the  quarter-deck  making  his  report.  The 
captain  was  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  the  duty 
had  been  performed,  and  did  not  scruple  to  say  so.  He 
complimented  Hartley  openly,  in  the  hearing  of  the 
men  and  of  his  brother  ofiicers.  Hartley  felt  happy.  He 
thought,  "  If  Mary  could  only  have  seen  us  go  in  !  and 
could  hear  my  praises  ! — it  would  make  her  proud  of  me." 

By  and  by  Mr.  Hiram  Doolittle,  having  found  out 
that  Hartley  was  not  the  "  capting,"  came  over  in  one  of 
his  own  boats  to  return  thanks.  He  was  shown  into  the 
cabin  and  had  a  long  talk,  and  when  he  came  out  it  was 
with  a  fixed  resolution  not  to  risk  his  vessel  in  order  to 
save  half  an  hour's  time  by  running  close  to  any  more 
p'ints.  He  asked  to  see  the  ofliicers  who  had  been  in  the 
expedition,  and  went  into  both  the  ward-room  and  the 
steerage  to  say  good-by.  All  the  while  he  carried  with 
him  a  small  but  seemingly  heavy  bag.  Just  before  leav- 
ing the  ship  he  called  Hartley  aside  mysteriously.  "  Lef- 
tenant,"  said  he,  '*  there's  a  hundred  silver  dollars  in  this 
here  bag.  'Tain't  much,  but  it's  the  best  I  can  do,  for  I'm 
not  over  and  above  w^ealthy.  I  want  you  to  give  each  o' 
them  men  that  helped  me  out  this  mornin'  a  dollar,  and 
divide  the  balance  among  you  officers  as  you  calc'late  to 
10* 


226  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

be  correct."  Hartley  could  not  repress  a  slight  smile  as 
■  he  involuntarily  calc'lated  what  his  share  of  the  lucre 
would  be.  He  hastened  to  assure  Captain  Doolittle  that 
they  were  not  allowed  to  take  money  for  protecting 
American  citizens,  that  the  country  paid  them  in  full  for 
such  services.  The  grateful  Yankee  seemed  really  disap 
pointed  to  hear  it,  so  Hartley  told  him  that  if  he  would 
leave  twenty  dollars  it  would  buy  the  men  a  treat,  to  which 
there  would  be  no  objection  and  which  they  would  like 
better  than  money.  This  satisfied  worthy  Doolittle,  who 
.  straightway  departed  into  his  own  craft  and  filled  away 
with  his  bowsprit  pointing  due  south. 

The  encounter  with  this  gang  showed  Captain  Merritt 
that  he  was  far  enough  to  the  west.  From  the  description 
given  by  the  crew  of  the  Mercutio  he  was  satisfied  that 
this  was  not  La  Hembrilla's  party.  The  inference  was 
natural  that  to  find  the  vessel  he  had  been  hunting,  or  to 
get  news  of  her,  he  must  go  back.  He  was  confirmed  by 
this  in  the  belief  that  her  secret  lair  lay  about  thirty  miles 
east  of  the  Cobre.  Well  pleased  with  the  result  of  the  trip, 
he  ordered  the  course  to  be  laid  for  the  river. 

Sounds  of  jollity  were  heard  in  the.  steerage  all  evening. 
The  warrant  officers  were  in,  and  Larkin,  who  had  got  a 
slight  flesh  wound  in  the  arm,  was  telling  the  story  of  the 
fight.  He  brought  out  the  ludicrous  side  of  the  engage- 
ment, moved  thereto  be  the  excessive  pride  of  Godolphin  and 
Young  in  their  first  service.  He  told  how,  as  the  three  boats 
shot  up  to  the  brig's  side,  Mr.  Robbins  stood  up  in  the  stern- 
sheets  of  the  gig  and  commanded  in  a  stentorian  voice, 
"  Fix  bayonets  !     Prepare  to  deploy  as  squirmishers  !  " 

"  And  when  I  got  over  the  bows,  gentlemen,  and  looked 
aft,  what  should  I  see,  rising  above  the  quarter-rail  like  a 
fiery  rocket,  but  the  ferocious  face  of  Porp.  Never  had  I 
suspected  him  of  such  a  fierce  disposition.  Waving  his 
trusty  blade,  he  uttered  a  wild  yell,  and,  all  alone  and  un- 
supported, threw  himself  upon  the  whole  body  of  pirates. 
I  thought  his  doom  was  sealed,  and  in  fact,  nothing  but 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  227 

liis  marvellous  powers  of  fence  saved  him.  While  con- 
tending heroically  with  a  ring  of  the  pirates  who  were 
thrusting  at  him,  he  managed  not  only  to  parry  their  stabs, 
but  when  pistols  were  fired  at  him  he  batted  the  balls  aside 
with  the  flat  of  his  sword.  But  he  did  not  long  remain  upon 
the  defensive.  With  one  sweep  of  his  flashing  steel  he 
decapitated  two  of  the  pirates ;  then  rushing  upon  them,  he 
began  lunging  right  and  left  with  such  deadly  force  and 
velocity  that  his  path  was  strewn  with  corpses.  The  pirates, 
fled  afli-ighted  into  their  boats  and  pulled  away  for  dear  life." 

"Now  Larkin — "  commenced  the  annoyed  youngster, 
amid  the  chuckles  of  the  party. 

"  Silence,  friend  Porp,  your  modesty  is  a  crime.  Valor 
must  be  known  that  it  may  be  imitated  by  others. 

"He  was  about  to  pursue  them  by  swimming,  when 
fortunately  for  them,  he  espied  a  rind  of  cheese  on  deck, 
and  at  once  sat  down  to  eat  it.  Overcome  by  his  exertions 
he  fell  asleep,  and  there  I  found  him  when  I  got  aft.  I 
awoke  him  with  the  greatest  difficulty — only  the  words 
*  breakfast  is  ready '  made  him  stir.  All  this  took  place  in 
four  seconds  of  time." 

'''Now  Larkin,"  said  Porp,  much  grieved,  "you  know 
that  ain't  so." 

"  Perhaps  it  was  five.  Mr.  Young  was  le§s  successful. 
I  missed  him  during  the  conflict  and  asked  for  him  when 
it  was  over.  He  lay  in  the  cutter,  apparently  devoid  of 
life.  The  boat-keeper  told  rae  that  he  had  fallen  over- 
board, overcome  by  terror  at  Porp's  yell,  and  that  it  had 
taken  a  lopg  time  to  fasten  on  to  his  clothes  with  the  boat- 
hook.  Finally,  he  dragged  him  in  nearly  dead.  We  only 
saved  him  by  rolling  him  on  a  barrel  of  whiskey  and  keep- 
ing Porp  so  far  away  that  his  voice  could  not  be  heard." 

"  Didn't  the  brig's  folks  make  no  fight  ?  "  asked  Thick. 

"  Yes,  the  best  they  knew  how.  They  had  some  rusty 
old  muskets  they  loaded  up,  but  they  didn't  begin  to  shoot 
till  the  pirates  were  on  board,  and  they  were  to  badly 
scared  to  aim  very  straight.  They  werq  all  tied  befoy© 
they  had  time  to  spit  on  their  hands." 


228  LOVE   AFLOAT. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  following  evening  found  the  ship  anchored  in  the 
mouth  of  the  river  and  preparations  making  for  an  ex- 
pedition. The  boats  were  not  lowered,  but  everything  was 
got  ready  to  put  in  them  before  sunset.  As  soon  as  it  was 
fairly  dark,  they  were  called  away,  and  Garnet  received 
his  orders.  These  were  to  ascend  the  stream  as  quietly  as 
possible,  keeping  in  the  middle  of  it,  to  make  an  occasional 
sounding,  and  to  go  on  till  midnight,  or  till  they  got  above 
a  seven-foot  channel.  If  he  found  La  Hembrilla,  he  was  to 
use  his  judgment  about  attacking. 

The  moon  was  three  hours  high  when  the  expedition 
left  the  ship.  The  boats  were  pulled  with  muffled  oars, 
and  their  progress  was  slow  and  silent,  for  the  current  of 
the  Cobre  was  so  strong  that  no  rapid  headway  could  be 
made.  They  passed  through  scenes  of  beauty.  The  air 
was  full  of  vapor,  which  hung  trembling  in  the  pale  light. 
The  night  had  all  the  stillness  of  the  tropics.  The  moon, 
as  it  sank,  cast  lengthening  and  peculiarly  black  shadows 
from  the  tree-crowned  hills  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the 
flowing  stream.  Valleys  leading  to  the  river  afforded  a 
chance  for  the  light  to  stream  through  and  pour  itself  out 
flat  on  the  water.  Where  the  stream  curved  east  or  west 
long  reaches  were  lighted  up. 

It  was  a  narrow  little  river,  not  over  a  hundred  yards 
wide,  and  in  some  places  the  inclining  trees  so  nearly  met 
overhead  that  it  was  like  passing  under  a  dark*arch.  In 
one  spot,  two  blqffs  stood  up  perpendicular,  facing  and 
near  each  other,  The  opening  looked  like  a  mighty  gate. 
It  was  hard  to  get  through  it,  because  the  contracted 
stream  ran  very  swiftly  between  the  opposing  walls. 

For  three  hours  the  boats  toiled  slowly  up,  the  only 
Bounds  being  the  dip  of  the  oars,  the  murmur  of  the  cleft 
water,  and  the  low  d^-ections  about  steering  given  by  the. 


A   STORY   OP   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  229 

officers  to  the  coxswains.  Toward  the  close  of  that  time, 
a  soft  and  sustained  noise,  like  that  of  moving  waters,  was 
heard  over  a  hiil ;  and  it  grew  momently  more  distinct. 
Turning  to  the  east  around  a  sharp  bend,  they  came  upon 
a  series  of  rapids,  and  little  cascades,  on  which  the  setting 
moon  was  throwing  its  last  rays.  It  was  beautiful,  even 
in  that  insufficient  light,  and  they  would  all  have  lingered 
at  the  foot  of  the  aqueous  slope  to  admire;  but  the 'head 
of  navigation  was  reached,  their  object  accomplished,  and 
Garnet  gave  the  order  to  return.  He  did  not  enforce 
silence  going  back,  allowing  the  men  to  talk  and  smoke 
by  way  of  rest  after  their  hard  work.  They  enjoyed  the 
swift  easy  row  down  stream,  and  in  one  hour  were  back  on 
board. 

In  the  morning  Garnet  was  sent  with  the  two  cutters, 
and  a  supply  of  provisions  to  last  in  case  the  ship  were 
called  away  on  a  chase,  and  instructions  to  make  a  day's 
survey  of  the  stream  as  far  up  as  the  time  would  permit. 
The  ship  was  gotten  under  way  and  stood  off  to  the  east- 
ward toward  El  Cayo  del  Pescador. 

Soon  after,  the  negro  captured  two  days  before  was 
missed,  and  a  strict  search  showed  that  he  was  not  in  the 
ship.  They  could  only  surmise  that  he  had  managed  to 
elude  the  sentry  in  the  night,  and,  with  his  irons  on,  had 
slipped  overboard.  There  was  a  chance  that  he  had  reached 
the  shore,  for  the  ship  lay  very  near  it,  and  it  was  possible 
for  a  good  swimmer,  though  pinioned,  to  go  a  little  way 
through  the  water ;  but  the  chance  was  so  small  that  they 
all  regarded  him  as  drowned. 

The  darkey  had  been  very  much  frightened  after  his 
sullen  fit  passed  off,  and  had  cried  and  blubbered  ;  but  he 
would  not  talk.  He  asked  to  see  Hartley,  and  at  first 
seetned  disposed  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  his  guilt  in  con- 
nection with  the  gang ;  but  something  made  him  change 
his  mind. 

"  I'se  much  obleeged  to  you  for  not  lettin'  'em  kill  me. 
Moss,"  he  said. 


230  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  You  had  better  be,"  Hartley  answered.  "  If  I  had 
not  been  there  the  men  would  have  killed  you  in  a  minute. 
What  do  you  want  ?  " 

"Will  dey  hangme?" 

"  I  can't  tell  about  that.  Your  best  chance  is  to  tell 
what  you  know,  so  we  can  catch  the  rest." 

.The  darkey  broke  out  crying  again,  exclaiming  repeat- 
edly, "  Wisht  I  was  back  to  old  Moss's  ;  "  but  he  would  say 
no  more. 

When  the  Flying  Fish  was  hove  to  off  the  point  of  the 
key,  Hartley  was  sent  in  the  gig  to  make  an  examination. 
There  was  little  to  be  seen.  The  key  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  yellow  and  white  and  gray  sand,  piled  up  in 
rolling  mounds,  with  a  scanty  vegetation  struggling  for 
life  here  and  there.  It  was  nearly  circular,  and  about  five 
hundred  yards  in  diameter.  Hartley  went  over  the  whole 
of  it.  He  took  two  of  the  gig's  men,  and  went  first  in  the 
direction  from  which  the  pirates  had  come  with  the  box, 
but  after  awhile  their  tracks  ceased,  and  he  had  no  further 
indication  to  guide  him.  He  pushed  on  in  the  same 
direction,  however,  and  in  a  hollow  between  two  mounds 
he  found  entangled  in  some  low  bushes  a  scrap  of  paper. 
On  it  was  a  list  of  names,  written  in  two  long  columns. 
He  read,  "  John  Hackett,  James  Arrowson,  Benjamin 
Markley,  Tom  Titus,  Bill  Kitt,  Alonzo  Gomez,  Mark  Jones, 
Antonio  Largues,  Jan  Alsen,  Pedro  Panza,  Peter  Devitt, 
William  Jackson,  Jno.  Peters,"  and  more.  There  were  in 
all  about  fifty  names,  and  he  took  it  to  be  a  muster  roll  of 
the  crew  of  La  Hembrilla.  Carefully  folding  thd  doc  - 
ment,  he  put  it  away,  thinking  it  might  be  of  use  in  the 
future.  Then  he  examined  the  key  closely,  crossing  it 
several  times,  and  making  a  complete  tour  by  the  beach. 
He  finally  brought  up  at  the  boat.  As  had  been  arrang*ed, 
the  ship  was  gone,  having  by  this  time  probably  reached 
the  river,  where  she  went  to  be  near  her  surveying  party. 

Hartley  was  to  sail  down  when  he  was  ready,  but,  as  he 
had  the  day  before  him  and  it  was  still  early,  he  made  no 


A    STOET    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAYT.  231 

haste.  Directing  the  crew  to  remain  near  the  boat,  he 
Btrolled  back  toward  the  centre  of  the  key,  where  stood  a 
sand  mound  of  so  much  greater  dimensions  and  height 
than  the  others  as  to  be  the  feature  of  the  island.  This 
hillock  was  crowned  with  the  species  of  coarse  tough  wiry- 
grass,  which  seems  able  to  thrive  in  the  most  barren  spots 
and  is  usually  found  in  such  places,  binding  the  poor  soil 
together  and  giving  it  permanency  against  dry  gales  by 
the  involved  mattings  of  its  intertwined  roots.  Here 
Hartley  sat  down. 

For  awhile  he  amused  himself  by  sketching  the  wil- 
derness of  rough  rocks  and  little  keys  which  studded  the 
western  water  ;  but  this  occupation  could  not  hold  its  place 
in  his  mind  with  the  thoughts  that  came  swarming.  His 
pencil  moved  mechanically,  then  became  idle. 

_  He  speculated  on  La  Hembrilla,  wondering  where  her 
refuge  could  lay,  and  imagined  half  a  dozen  combats  in 
which  he  himself  figured  as  the  discoverer  of  the  pirates' 
haunt,  the  outwitter  of  their  cunning,  and  their  vanquisher 
and  captor  in  glorious  fight.  He  recalled  the  events  which 
had  occurred  since  they  had  sailed  from  Santa  Cruz,  and 
his  pulses  leapt  at  the  remembrance  of  the  short  successful 
struggle  upon  the  brig's  deck.  Again  he  longed  that  Mary 
had  seen  him  wave  his  sword  leading  his  men  on  to  victory; 
and  then  he  thought  of  her  with  a  deep  tenderness.  He 
went  over  heir  many  perfections,  her  goodness,  sweetness, 
vivacity,  beauty,  each  grace  of  person  and  of  mind  ;  and 
he  hugged  himself,  like  a  miser  counting  over  his  dollars,  to 
remember  that  each  and  all  were  his.  His  vanity  was 
pleased,  and  his  pride  rising.  Then  better  thoughts  came. 
He  wondered  why  he,  of  all  men,  should  be  singled  out  for 
so  much  joy,  and  he  reflected  upon  his  defects  of  character 
and  the  means  of  modifying  them  so  that  the  dear  girl's 
happiness  might  flow  straight  along  without  a  break. 

He  lay  down  upon  his  back  in  the  wiry  grass,  shielded 
his  head  frv)ra  the  sun  with  the  portfolio,  and  gazed  up  into 
the  sky.     Strange  fancies  soon  came  floating  through  his 


2v2  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

mind,  visions  mixed  of  heaven  and  earth  floated  above. 
His  body  was  unfelt  and  he  seemed  to  himself  like  a  spirit 
which  might  fly  away  when  it  would.     The  sighing  of  the 
wind*  in  the  grass  was  in  his  ears  a  sound 
"  That  far  away  did  rave 
On  alien  shores." — Tennyson. 

It  was  the  dclce  far  nientey  or  he  was  eating  the  lotos 
maybe,  or  absorbing  poetry  from  nature  ;  but  whatever  it 
was,  the  pleasure  was  too  delicate  and  ethereal  to  last  any 
son  of  earth  very  long.  An  idea  stole  in  unwelcome,  a 
thing  of  doubt  which  broke  the  charm.  A  remainder  of 
his  uneasiness  about  Mary's  aflection  came  over  him,  and 
he  instantly  arose. 

Looking  at  his  watch  he  found  that  the  men  would  have 
a  late  dinner,  even  if  the  good  breeze  held,  a  discovery  that 
made  him  start  back.  Before  he  left  the  mound  he  instinc- 
tively took  a  last  glance  around  the  horizon.  Something, 
a  transient  gleam  of  white  in  the  far  southeast,  caught 
his  eye.  "  A  sail  ? — or  a  gull's  wing  ?  "  he  thought.  He 
gazed  intently  and  thought  he  saw  the  speck  of  white 
again,  but  it  appeared  distinctly  no  more. 

Dismissing  it  from  his  mind,  he  hurried  to  the  boat. 
To  avoid  a  tramp  through  the  loose  yielding  sand,  he 
turned  to  the  left,  that  he  might  the  sooner  gain  the  hard 
beach.  Three  mounds  lay  near  it,  in  such  an  exact  line 
north  and  south  that  he  noticed  their  uniformity.  The. 
northern  one  of  the  three  was  higher  and  more  pointed 
than  the  others,  standing  up  like  a  captain.  He  walked 
betw^een  them,  gained  the  beach,  and  soon  reached  the 
boat, 

hitting  the  two  large  sails,  the  long  lean  gig  lay  far 
over  on  her  side  for  a  moment ;  then,  gathering  way, 
righted  and  darted  off* arrow-like  before  the  fresh  wind.  A 
quick  run  through  her  own  spray  and  foam  carried  her 
to  the  ship,  and  before  long  Hartley  was  comfortably  eat- 
ing his  dinner. 

He  found  Garnet  at  the  smoking  place  with  the  other 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  233 

officers.  All  seemed  to  be  teasing  Dularge,  who  was  tak- 
ing it  very  sourly.     When  Hartley  appeared  he  went  away. 

Hartley  asked  what  was  the  matter,  and  after  a  little 
hesitation  they  told  him. 

It  seemed  that  Dularge  had  imagined  himself  in  love 
with  Mary,  and  had  thought  about  the  propriety  of  under- 
taking her  conquest.  He  made  a  confidant  of  Doctor 
Bobus,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  surgeon,  who,  while  he 
did  not  fancy  Dularge  and  did  not  care  to  have  the  keep- 
ing of  his  secrets,  had  an  admiration  for  Mary  and  a  toler- 
able certainty  about  her  affair  with  Hartley.  The  inflated 
and  lady-killing  air  with  which  Dularge  conveyed  his  senti- 
ments and  intentions  was  still  more  disgusting  to  a  man 
with  Bobus's  gentlemanly  instincts.  "  You  see.  Doc,"  said 
Dularge,  "I  think  I've  been  running  loose  long  enough. 
A  young  fellow  must  have  his  swing,  you  know,  but  by 
Jove  !  he  has  to  take  the  example  of  old  fellows  like  you, 
and  settle  down  some  day,  you  know.  Don't  you  think 
so?" 

"  The  earlier  the  better,"  replied  the  doctor  dryly. 

"  Just  so.  Exactly  what  I  think.  A  fellow's  bound  to 
marry  and  settle  down  some  time,  you  know  ;  and,  if  he 
finds  a  woman  to  suit  him  pretty  well,  he'd  better  sacrifice 
himself  a  few  years  sooner,  for  fear  of  not  finding  another 
as  good,  you  know.  By  Jove  !  the  good  ones  are  none  too 
plenty.  Now,  Doc,  I  leave  it  to  you  if  I'm  likely  to 
come  across  as  pretty  a  piece,  and  as  rich,  too,  as  Mary 
Dewhurst  very  soon." 

The  doctor  was  in  his  state-room  blockaded  by  the 
buzzing  tormentor.  "  Are  you  sure  you  can  induce  Miss 
Dewhurst  to  be  your  wife  ?  "  he  asked,  in  a  tone  that  would 
have  informed  most  men. 

"  Ah,"  replied  Dularge  with  inimitable  serene  compla- 
cency, "just  leave  that  to  me.  I  have  had  some  little  ex- 
perience with  the  fair  sex.     I  fancy  that  is  all  right." 

Bobus  felt  so  irritated  and  contemptuous  that  he  could 
cheerfully  have  kicked  him.     "  If  you  can  marry  Miss  Dew- 


234  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

hurst,  you'd  better,"  said  he ;  adding  mentally,  "  for  she 
would  make  you  behave  more  like  a  man  before  other 
people."  He  went  on,  aloud,  in  a  rather  impatient  voice, 
"  Let  me  pass  through  the  door,  if  you  please.  I  want  to 
go  into  the  bay." 

"  Well !  "  thought  Dularge,  surprised  ;  "hang  me  if  I 
don't  believe  the  old  bigamy  has  an  eye  on  her  himself." 
He  chuckled  at  the  notion  of  any  one  else  trying  to  get 
ahead  of  him  in  the  good  graces  of  a  lady. 

On  the  morning  about  which  we  are  writing  Dularge 
had  been  observing  his  lovely  countenance  in  a  glass,  and 
his  soul  was  secretly  troubled.  He  went  again  to  the 
doctor ;  found  him  reading  in  his  state-room,  penned  him 
in,  and  opened  on  him: 

"  Doctor,  you  know  I  mentioned  my  intentions  with 
regard  to  Miss  Mary  Dewhurst.  Something  you  said 
about  a  chance  against  me,  set  me  to  thinking  about  it ; 
and  I  confess  I  am  uneasy." 

"Well." 

"  You  see,  doctor,  if  there's  anything  the  ladies  go  for 
it's  personal  appearance.  I  think  I  do  passably  well  on 
that  score" — he  drew  himself  up  with  an  air — "  but  you 
know  the  women  are  so  confoundedly  observing." 

"  Well." 

"  The  least  little  thing  out  of  the  way,  and  they  see  it 
sure.  Now,  doctor,  I  have  discovered  one  defect  in  my 
personal  appearance,  and  I  want  to  consult  you  about  it." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  I  never  noticed  it  before,  but  I  think  my  nose  is  just 
a  little  to  one  side — to  the  right-^— don't  you  see  it  ?  " 

The  doctor  looked,  and  though  Dularge's  nose  w«as 
apparently  in  the  middle  of  his  face,  he  answered,  "  Oh, 
yes  ;  distinctly,"  hoping  to  be  rid  of  him  by  acquiescence. 

"  I  thought  so,"  said  Dularge  sadly  ;  "  I  was  afraid  so. 
Can  you  do  anything  for  it  ?  *' 

Doctor  Bobus  was  suddenly  and  very  strongly  tempted. 
His  dignity  made  him  dislike  practical  jokes,  and  he  would 


A   STOEY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  235 

not  usually  condescend  to  play  them  ;  but  here  was  an 
opportunity  he  could  not  resist. 

"  Well,"  he  replied,  in  a  dubious  tone,  "  it  may  be  pos- 
sible.    Is  it  congenital  ?  " 

«  Con—  what  ?  " 

"  Congenital.  I  mean  have  your  father  and  mother  the 
same  distortion  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Dularge,  slightly  bridling  up.  "  My 
parents  are  both  remarkably  fine  looking." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  this  condition  ?  " 

"I  don't  know.     I  only  noticed  it  a  little  while  ago." 

"  Oh,  recent,  eh  ?  It  is  probably  curable  then.  Prob- 
ablv  the  growth  of  the  distortion  can  be  arrested,  and  the 
organ  restored  to  its  normal  condition  by  proper  treat- 
ment." 

"  I'm  very  glad  to  hear  it.  Let  me  have  the  medicine 
now,  won't  you  ?  " 

The  doctor  seemed  to  be  musing.  "  No,"  he  muttered. 
*'  No  use.     He  would  never  bear  it." 

"  Tell  me  what  you  would  have  to  do,  doctor.  Is  it 
very  painful  ?  I  could  stand  a  good  deal,  and  it  won't  do 
to  let  it  get  worse  than  it  is  now." 

"  Mr.  Dularge,  the  remedy  is  very  painful.  I  doubt 
your  ability  to  bear  it.  Your  case  requires  what  the  fac- 
ulty term  heroic  treatment." 

"  Why  do  they  call  it  that  ?  "  asked  Dularge  anxiously. 

"  Because  it  requires  a  great  deal  of  heroism  in  the 
patient  to  endure  it  long  enough  to  effect  a  radical  cure." 

'*  Well,  tell  me  what  it  is  anyhow,"  urged  Dularge,  now 
grown  very  nervous.     "  Maybe  I  could  stand  it." 

"  Oh,  it's  simple  enough.  I  merely  introduce  a  support 
into  your  left  nostril  which  prevents  a  further  deflection 
of  the  bridge,  and  sets  up  a  counter-irritation  that  causes 
a  gradual  return  to  nature.  But  the  support  plugs  the 
nostril  entirely,  and  its  pressure  on  the  tissues  and  mucous 
membrane  becomes  very  painful." 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  try  it,"  said  Dularge  reflectively ; 


236  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  it  '11  do  no  hurt  even  if  I  can't  keep  it  in.     I  will.    Come, 
doctor,  fix  her  up  !  " 

'•  Very  well,  Mr.  Dularge,  but  please  remember  it  will 
take  some  time,  and  that  I  endeavored  to  dissuade  you." 

"  All  right,  plug  her  up.     I'll  take  the  risk." 

The  doctor  gravely  and  deliberately  made  a  large  hard 
wad  of  pink  cotton-wool,  which  he  stuffed  up  Dularge's 
nose  with  great  care.  Then  he  wrote  a  prescription,  and 
sent  it  to  his  steward  by  a  servant,  who  speedily  returned 
with  a  small  glass  syringe  full  of  a  brown  liquid.  The 
doctor  injected  this  upon  the  cotton-wool,  told  Dularge  to 
breathe  through  his  mouth  and  be  patient,  and  dismissed 
him.  Then  the  doctor  laughed  very  heartily  for  ten  min- 
utes in  his  own  peculiar  manner.  He  always  lauded 
internally,  without  noise,  and  it  seemed  painful  to  him  ; 
so  much  so  that  he  held  in  his  sides  with  his  hands  as  if 
to  keep  from  bursting. 

Dularge  went  to  quarters,  and  attracted  attention  by 
the  swelled  condition  of  his  nose,  already  getting  pink. 
The  captain  saw  it  and  wondered,  and  so  did  McKizick, 
and  so  did  the  men.  After  quarters  the  ofiicers  asked,  one 
after  another,  as  each  met  hinqi,  "  What's  the  matter  with 
your  nose  ?  "  This  was  not  pleasant  to  him.  He  answered 
each  shortly  that  it  was  sore  and  the  doctor  had  been  fix- 
ing it  for  him. 

By  and  by  it  began  to  hurt,  and  he  could  not  refrain 
from  stroking  and  caressing  it  in  a  manner  that  excited 
laughter  and  caused  further  inquiry.  He  was  so  non-com- 
mitted on  the  tender  subject  that  curiosity  was  heightened, 
and,  as  soon  as  he  made  an  opportunity  by  leaving  the 
ward-room,  everybody  went  to  the  doctor  and  demanded  an 
explanation.  He  at  first  pleaded  the  confidence  reposed  in 
medical  men,  but  they  urged  so  hard  and  the  joke  was  so 
good  that  he  had  to  tell  them.  He  broke  down  several 
times,  and  was  forced  to  take  a  turn  around  the  ward-room, 
laughing  agonizedly  and  holding  his  sides.  They  laughed, 
too,  when   they   heard  the   story.      The   doctor    begged 


A    STOllY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  237 

them  to  let  Dularge  alone  for  a  few  hours,  and  take  out 
their  amusement  in  watching  him  while  he  remained  igno- 
rant that  they  knew. 

Presently  he  came  back  with  his  nose  looking  more 
bulged  than  ever  and  grown  quite  red.  He  kept  putting 
his  hand  to  it,  stroking  it,  pressing  it,  and  making  wry 
faces.  He  went  in  his  room  and  got  on  the  bed,  taking  a 
hand-glass  with  him,  and  the  rest  of  the  mess  found  fre- 
quent occasion  to  pass  his  door  and  steal  a  glance  at  him, 
as  he  lay  ruefully  regarding  the  swollen  member.  The 
frequent  gushes  of  half-suppressed  laughter  which  he  heard 
outside  made  him  curious,  and  he  called  several  times  to 
ask  what  was  the  fun. 

All  the  while  the  nose  w^as  becoming  more  irritated, 
and  at  last  he  felt  unable  to  endure  it  any  longer.  He 
was  heard  to  exclaim,  "  By  Jove  !  I  can't  stand  it  !  "  and 
then  he  appeared  in  the  ward-room,  holding  the  organ  in 
his  hand  very  delicately  and  looking  around  surprised  at 
the  merriment  which  greeted  him.  He  stopped  to  ask  no 
questions,  but  ran  to  the  surgeon's  state-room  at  once. 
The  doctor  was  quietly  pretending  to  read  a  book. 

"  I  say,  doctor,  this  is  worse  than  I  thought,  you  know. 
How  much  longer  will  it  take  ?" 

"  My  dear  sir,  the  time  is  very  indefinite.  Sometimes 
the  cure  comes  sooner,  sometimes  later.  You  can  never 
tell  until  you  are  cured,"  replied  Bobus. 

"  Do  you  think  it  will  take  very  long  for  me,  doctor  ?  " 

"  I  do — a  considerable  space  of  time,"  answered  the 
surgeon. 

*'^  But,  doctor,  it  won't  hurt  any  worse,  will  it  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  will.  Your  sufferings  are  only  begun, 
Mr.  Dularge." 

"  But,  doctor,  I  can't  stand  it,  you  know.  How  much 
longer  do  you  think  it  will  take  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  as  near  as  I  can  say,  if  you  keep  the  sup- 
port constantly  in  place,  and  do  not  unduly  excite  the 
mucous  membrane  by  rubbing  with  the  hand  as  you  have 


238  LOYE   AFLOAT. 

been  doing,  and  do  not  catch  cold,  and  breathe  all  the  time 
through  your  mouth,  and  be  patient,  and  the  case  progress 
favorably,  it  will  take — " 

"  How  long,  doctor  ?  " 

"  About  two  years  and  six  months." 

"  Good  Lord  ! "  ejaculated  Dularge  in  despair,  "  as  long 
as  that !     Why,  I  can't  stand  it,  you  know  !  " 

A  burst  of  laughter  from  the  officers  outside,  who  had 
slipped  to  the  door  and  overheard,  explained  it  all  to  Du- 
large. Casting  one  furious  glance  at  the  doctor,  who  was 
twisting  and  writhing  in  his  chair  in  a  convulsion  of  mirth, 
he  departed  to  his  room,  where  he  quickly  picked  out  the 
wad  of  cotton  with  a  pin.  For  a  long  time  afterward  all 
that  was  needed  to  make  Dularge  stop  disgusted  in  one  of 
his  magnificent  speeches  was  to  ask  him,  "How's  your 
nose  ?  " 

The  cutters  returned  at  dark,  Garnet  having  completed 
his  rough  chart  of  the  river  as  far  up  as  the  ship  could  go. 

The  captain  now  determined  to  leave  the  vicinity  of 
the  Cobre  for  a  time,  and  to  try  to  get  information  further 
east.  He  thought  it  likely  that  the  pirates  had  abandoned 
that  cruising-ground,  temporarily  at  least,  as  he  had  seen 
nothing  of  La  Hembriila  for  several  days.  It  seemed  use- 
less for  the  sloop  to  stay  when  she  was  away,  and  in  addi- 
tion he  thought  that  orders  might  be  awaiting  him  in 
Santa  Cruz,  to  which  port  the  commodore  expected  him 
to  go  occasionally.  After  cruising  three  or  four  days 
longer  without  incident  they  started  up  the  coast. 

They  touched  at  several  places,  most  of  them  small  vil- 
lages, in  each  of  which  careful  attempts  were  made  to  find 
out  something  of  the  schooner.  Officers  went  ashore  and 
called  upon  the  officials,  and  citizens  were  invited  to  visit 
the  ship.  The  men  were  sent  on  liberty,  also,  and  the 
petty  officers  instructed  to  pump  the  natives.  It  was  all 
useless.  Though  the  conduct  of  the  people,  under  their 
close  watching  and  frequent  interrogation,  was  sometimes 
suspicious,  they  had  nothing  to  tell,  all  professing  ignorance, 


A   STOKY    OF   THE    AMEKICAN    NAVY.  289 

or  declaring  that  they  had  never  heard  of  such  a  craft  as 
La  Hembrilla. 

In  a  week  the  Flying  Fish  reached  Santiago  do  Cuba, 
an  interesting  place,  walled  in  by  mountains,  possessing  a 
fine  harbor,  and  having,  in  addition,  at  that  time,  the  rep- 
utation of  being  the  birthplace  of  the  yellow  fever.  It 
was  formerly  averred  that  the  fever  always  originated  in 
that  city,  and  could  invariably  be  traced  back  to  it  as  a 
starting  point.  At  that  season  it  was  healthy,  and  no  fears 
were  felt  of  any  bad  effect  following  a  visit. 

A  little  Portuguese  gun-brig  lay  at  anchor  in  the  har- 
bor. She  was  the  image  of  naval  slouchiness.  Her  masts 
were  badly  "stayed,  her  head  booms  curved  upward,  her 
yards  were  out  of  square,  with  some  of  the  braces  hanging 
in  bights,  and  the  lower  lifts  were  so  slack  that  the  yard- 
arms  drooped  in  the  meanest  merchant-ship  fashion.  Her 
hull,  once  black,  had  grown  of  an  ashy  grayish  color  from 
long  lack  of  paint ;  and  wherever  there  was  a  piece  of  iron- 
work outside  a  streak  of  red  rust  ran  from  it  to  the  water's 
edge. 

When  the  Flying  Fish  anchored,  Hartley  was  sent  to 
this  unique  man-of-war  to  make  inquiries,  she  showing  no 
sign  of  meaning  to  pay  the  usual  official  visit.  She  wore 
a  deserted  air,  no  one  noticing  his  approach.  When  he 
mounted  the  side  he  looked  up  and  down  the  deck  without 
seeing  a  soul  under  her  baggy  awnings,  but  a  negro  boy 
about  four  years  old.  The  little  fellow  was  very  black, 
very  fat,  very  dirty,  and  eyed  him  solemnly  without  a  word. 
His  face  shone  "  like  the  moon  in  her  fourteenth  night " 
with  grease,  and  his  only  garment  was  a  short  cotton  shirt, 
almost  as  black  as  himself.  The  deck  was  covered  with  a 
varied  assortment  of  grease  spots  of  all  sizes  and  ages. 

**  You  are  the  captain,  I  presume,"  said  Hartley,  politely 
touching  his  cap  to  the  little  darkey.  The  niggeret  uttered  a 
loud  wail  of  fear,  and  ran  off  as  fast  as  his  chubby  legs  would 
carry  him,  bawling  the  while.  He  disappeared  down  a 
sort  of  booby-hatch  that  seemed  to  lead  into  the  cabin. 


2i0  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

While  Hartley  was  wondering  at  his  reception,  a  sleepy, 
stupid-looking  Portuguese  came  up  the  ladder  with  a  glass 
in  his  hand.  He  advanced  calmly,  and  waited  to  know  the 
visitor's  business.  The  little  darkey  had  followed  him  back 
whimpering,  and  now  stood  silently  behind  him,  clinging 
to  his  legs  and  occasionally  peeping  timidly  out  at  the  terri- 
ble clean  stranger.  Spite  of  his  crying,  he  showed  no  trace 
of  tears ;  water  could  no  more  remain  upon  his  oily  visage 
than  upon  the  back  of  a  duck.    . 

"  Do  you  speak  English  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

The  sailor  shook  his  head. 

"HablasEspanol?" 

"  Poco,"  was  the  brief  reply. 

"  En  donde  esta  el  capitano  ?  " 

"  No  hay.  Queda."  And.the  sailor  calmly  walked  back 
to  the  hatch  and  went  below. 

After  awhile  there  came  up  a  half-dressed  officer,  as 
sleepy-looking  as  the  sailor.  Seeing  Hartley,  his  lethargy 
left  him,  and  he  explained  that  the  captain  was  ashore 
and  all  hands  were  taking  a  siesta,  according  to  the  com- 
mon custom.  The  vessel  was  his  Portuguese  Majesty's 
brig-of-war  La  Madonna  de  Coimbra.  He  had  heard  of 
La  Hembrilla — who  had  not  ? — but  had  never  seen  her. 
In  fact  La  Madonna  had  been  in  Santiago  only  three  months. 
She  would  doubtless  pursue  the  accursed  rover  before  long 
— it  was  the  mission  of  gallant  sailors  to  sweep  the  pirates 
from  off  the  face  of  the  whole  ocean — ^but  they  had  not  yet 
recovered  from  the  arduous  passage  around  Point  Maysi. 
Besides,  what  haste  ?  The  accursed  rover  was  too  swift. 
Why  not  wait  till  she  came  into  Santiago  ? 

Hartley  finished  hi§  business  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
returned  to  the  ship  as  rich  as  he  left.  When  the  mid- 
shipmen heard  the  brig's  name,  they  dubbed  her  "The 
Greasy  Virgin." 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        241 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THAT  night  at  about  half-past  eight,  Hartley  went  np 
and  joined  Garnet,  who  had  the  deck.  The  two  liked 
once  in  a  while  to  get  together  in  that  way,  and  open  their 
hearts  to  one  another.  The  constant  movement  of  walking 
seemed  to  free  the  channels  of  speech,  which  run  from  mind 
through  mouth,  by  ear,  into  mind ;  so  that  on  deck  in  the 
night  they  always  came  nearer  to  each  other  than  at  any 
other  time.  Many  a  keen  criticism  of  character  was 
uttered,  many  a  poetic  figure  expanded,  many  a  hard 
friendly  word  passed,  which  at  any  other  time  and  place 
would  not  have  been  spoken.  Hartley  saved  up  his  poems 
against  these  occasions,  in  order  to  give  Garnet  a  chance 
to  pull  them  to  pieces. 

Another  reason  why  they  were  more  communicative  at 
such  times  was  that  one's  face  never  speaks  by  night. 
Neither  of  them  liked  to  betray  emotion.  Garnet  especially 
detested  to  show  any  weakness,  and  he  was  a  man  whose 
well-spring  of  sympathy  lay  not  very  deep  under  his  dry 
sandy  crust. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  they  talked  continuously, 
however,  for  the  "  flashes  of  silence"  were  frequent.  Only 
something  very  new  and  interesting  ever  kept  them  going 
long :  a  few  remarks  usually  satisfied  them,  and  the  rest 
was  filled  with  suggested  thoughts,  which  now  and  then 
found  utterance.  When  one  of  them  wandered  off  on 
something  else  the  talk  would  break  out  again  for  awhile. 

"  Well,  Harry,  that  you  ?     Glad  you  come." 

"Yes.  Come  to  take  a  turn  with  you.  We  hav'nt 
been  on  deck  together  for  a  month." 

"  No,"  was  all  Garnet  had  to  say,  and  they  had  a  walk 
up  and  down  the  deck  for  a  bit. 

*'  Hal,*'  said  Garnet,  "  have  you  any  idea  how  much  a 
man  walks  in  a  year  on  watch  ?  " 
11 


24:2  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"No:  but  I  suppose  it's  something  considerable." 

"  Let's  consider  it.  I  have  been  going  over  it  in  my 
head.  I  stepped  off  the  distance  from  the  fiferail  to  the 
boom  sheet  just  thirty  yards,  and^I  have  often  noticed  that 
it  takes  me  about  a  minute  to  go  over  that  distance  three 
times.  That's  about  three  miles  an  hour.  I  suppose  a 
man  walks  three-quarters  of  his  watch,  doesn't  he  ?  " 

"  Yes,  fully,"  replied  Hartley.    "  More,  on  the  average." 

"Say  three-quarters.  Six  hours  in  twenty-four — that 
would  be  four  thousand  nine  hundred  miles  a  year,  when 
you  were  standing  four  watches,  or  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred in  a  ship  with  only  three." 

"  Whew  !  I  had  no  idea  it  was  so  much,"  said 
Hartley. 

"  You  can't  make  it  any  less,  unless  you  walk  slower. 
Just  think,  I  am  walking  five  thousand  miles  a  year  for 
the  good  of  my  country.  We  ought  to  have  tough  under- 
standings, Hal." 

"  So  we  have,  my  boy." 

"  What  was  Bobbins  talking  to  you  about  ? "  asked 
Garnet. 

"  He  asked  me  who  was  Charlotte  Curdy." 
.    "Curdy,  eh?" 

"  Yes  ;  so  he  pronounced  it.  I  told  him  he  was  think- 
ing of  Charlotte  Corday,  and  gave  him  the  story  of  how 
she  stabbed  Marat  when  he  was  in  his  bath,  and  sacrificed 
her  life  to  rid  France  of  the  monster.  He  said  he  had 
heard  something  about  it,  but  thought  the  name  was 
Curdy,  and  that  it  was  Mew-rat  she  killed." 

"  Did  he  appreciate  her  motive  ?  " 

"Not  in  the  least;  but  he  admired  her  pluck  very 
much,"  replied  Hartley.     . 

"  Singular  what  satisfaction  he  has  in  life." 

"  He  saddens  and  disgusts  me." 

Then  ensued  a  pause  of  several  minutes,  after  which 
Hartley  recounted  his  visit  to  the  greasy  Madonna,  and 
his  reception  by  the  quaint  little  nigger.     He  ended   by 


A   STOEY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  243 

saying,  "  Strange  how  men  can  be  satisfied  with  such  a 
useless  existence." 

"  Just  what  I  said  about  Robbins.  We  see  the  same 
thing  every  day  in  one  shape  or  another,  but  I  cannot 
become  reconciled  to  such — such  a — " 

"  To  such  an  ignoble  yielding  to  the  force  of  circum- 
stances ?  "  supplied  Hartley. 

"Yes.  I  can  understand  that  the  difference  in  men's 
natures  inclines  some  to  idleness :  but  how  can  they  be 
satisfied  ?     I  suppose  they  get  used  to  it." 

"  Most  of  them  seem  as  content  as  busy  men  are." 

"  What  is  content,  Hal  ?  " 

**  Retirement,  rural  quiet,  friendship,  books, 
Ease  and  alternate  labor,  useful  life. 
Progressive  virtue,  and  approving  heaven." 

"  That's  the  poetry  for  it.     Now  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  To  have  a  good  occupation,  and  a  sure  income,  a 
sweet-tempered,  smart,  pretty  wife,  and  a  few  children,  a 
love  for  books  and  a  philosophical  disposition." 

"  If  turnips  were  watches,  I'd  wear  one,"  said  Garnet. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  say  it  is  ?  " 

"A  mixture  of  congenial  work  and  leisure  in  propor- 
tions suited  to  the  man." 

"  That  ought  to  account  for  Robbins's  contetitment." 

"Why?"  asked  Garnet. 

"  No  work  is  congenial  to  him,  and  he  has  nothing  to 
do.  There's  your  mixture — whiskey,  diluted  with  whiskey, 
and  flavored  with  whiskey — proportions  suited  to  the  man. 
You  leave  out  the  wife  in  your  estimate.  Honestly,  Will, 
don't  you  think  her  necessary  ?  " 

"  Honestly — yes.  I  have  thought  it  all  over,  and  I  am 
willing  to  leap  into  the  bottomless  pit  of  matrimony  if  I 
can  persuade  Miss  Terrell  to  jump,  too." 

"  Bravo !  good  !  You  musn't  expect  her  to  pin  her 
apron-strings  to  your  coat-tails,  and  drag  you  in.  She's 
not  the  woman  for  that." 


24:4  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

*'  I  said  if  I  could  persuade  her." 

"  You  don't  mean  it,  Will  ?  " 

"  I  dare  say  I  would  be  a  better  man,  married.  But  we 
are  not  certain  of  finding  the  ladies  in  Santa  Cruz  when  we 
get  there." 

"That's  true,  but  I  sincerely  hope  we  may,  on  your 
account  as  well  as  my  own.  You  would  fall  in  love  with 
Isabel  Terrell,  if  you  had  a  chance  to  see  something  of  her. 
Confound  your  deliberation,  Will  !  you  just  threw  away  a 
week  of  splendid  opportunities." 

Garnet  laughed  dryly.  **  They  wouldn't  have  been  so 
valuable  to  me  as  you  think,  Harry.  I  haven't  your — well, 
let's  call  it  your  executive  ability." 

"  No.  Pshaw !  Better  get  me  to  attend  to  this  little 
affair  for  you." 

*'  On  the  principle  that  a  man  who  is  his  own  lawyer 
has  a  fool  for  a  client,"  replied  Garnet,  scornfully. 

"  You'll  never  help  yourself." 

"  So  I  had  better  get  help.  Exactly.  Having  had 
great  experience  in  this  line,  you  are  prepared  to  execute 
country  orders  with  promptness  and  despatch.  It  might 
be  safe  to  trust  you,  since  Miss  Mary  is  in  the  same 
house." 

"  You  know  well  enough  what  I  mean.  It*8  absurd  to 
waste  good  chances  trying  to  make  up  your  mind  to  what 
is  clear  at  the  first  glance." 

"  It  might  not  have  been  so  clear  to  me.  You  don't 
look  at  it  as  I  do,  and  there's  no  use  talking.  Perhaps  I 
did  not  entirely  waste  my  chances,  as  you  say." 

"  There,  you  can't  pass  yourself  off  for  a  sly  lover. 
That  is  a  new  role  for  you  !  " 

Garnet  was  more  in  earnest  than  his  friend  could 
believe.     Presently  Hartley  broke  the  silence  again. 

"  Speaking  of  content,  did  you  ever  see  any  one  more 
blissfully  satisfied  that  Dularge  ?  He  isn't  handsome  or 
smart,  or  well-informed,  or  a  good  officer  or  respect- 
able in  any  way,  yet  he  thinks  himself  all  that  and  more. 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  245 

He  can't  even  talk,  though  he  believes  himself  to  be 
eloquent." 

"  He  lacks  the  four  ingredients.'* 

"Of  what?" 

"  Good  conversation." 

"  What  are  they  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

"  Sense,  truth,  humor,  and  wit." 

"  That's  a  tip-top  analysis.     Whose  is  it  ?  " 

"  Sir  William  Temple's,  I  believe." 

"Where?" 

"  Don't  know.     I  never  read  him." 

They  walked  awhile  longer,  and  Garnet  asked,  "  Tell 
me,  Hal,  what  good  does  your  Miss  Mary  do  you  now  ?  " 

"  She  is  my  *  dear  under-song  in  clamor's  hour.'  " 

"  Poetry  as  usual.  Wonder  if  I  were  to  get  into  love 
it  would  set  me  to  rhyming.  Hope  not.  That  would  be 
Another  inducement  to  try  to  marry  reasonably." 

"  Well,  that  wasn't  my  own  verse.  I  couldn't  possibly 
lay  bare  my  feelings  at  the  present  time,  so  I  just  flung  in 
the  first  words  that  came  handy.     You  must  excuse  me." 

"Certainly.  I  suppose  there  must  be  a  forbidden 
ground  in  such  cases.  I  cant  see  where  it  begins,  but  I 
shall  not  feel  hard  if  you  warn  me  off." 

"Will,  I've  been  a  boy  in  this  whole  thing.  I  just 
yielded  to  my  impulses  and  wishes  without  any  considera- 
tion for  her,  or  thought  about  her  happiness.  I  don't 
deserve  it.  I  have  gone  ahead  like  a  boy,  and  I  have  been 
successful ;  but  I'm  only  now  beginning  to  understand  and 
appreciate  what  I  have  gained.  I  don't  deserve  it — but  I 
vow  I  will,  by  heaven  !  I  will  try  all  my  life  long  to 
make  her  happy.  Henceforth,  I'll  be  a  man  for  her 
sake." 

"  I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,  Harry.  Try  not 
to  forget  it  all  before  morning — it  is  what  you  need  to 
remember.  If  you  have  found  it  out  for  yourself  it  may 
do  you  good.  I  speak  plainly,  but  *  faithful  are  the  wounds 
of  a  friend,'  you  know.     I  believe  you  are  right  in  your 


246  LOTE  AFLOAT. 

high  estimate  of  Miss  Mary.  You  have  fallen  on  your  feet 
as  usual." 

"That's  all  true,  old  fellow." 

Another  pause,  then  Hartley  resumed.     "  I  do  hope  we 
shall  find  them  there.     There's  a  young  Englishman  named 
Shelley  writing  some  very  deep  and  beautiful  poetry  now." 
"  IVe  read  some  of  it." 

"  You  mean  you  can't  understand  it.  Never  mind  ; 
study  on  it.  He's  in  Italy  now,  I  believe.  There's  a  piece 
of  his  begins — 

"  *  Many  a  green  isle  needs  must  be 
In  the  deep  wide  sea  of  misery, 
Or  the  mariner,  worn  and  wan, 
Never  thus  could  voyage  on — ' 

**  Well,  Santa  Cruz  is  the  greenest  island — the  only  green 
one  to  me — in  this  whole  miserable  sea." 

"  One  glass  of  good  whiskey  would  make  the  whol^ 
Caribbean  as  pleasant  as  punch,  in  five  minutes." 

"  You're  inclined  to  scoff  at  me.  Will,  you  know  how 
a  Cape  pigeon  flies  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

"  With  a  swift,  curving,  horizontal  sweep ;  and  how 
pretty  the  little  things  are,  and  sometimes  they  come  sud- 
denly, when  you  are  not  expecting  them,  and  cross  before 
your  eyes,  and  are  gone  before  you  can  turn  your  head." 

"  I've  often  noticed  that." 

"  Just  so  with  some  of  our  thoughts — some  of  our  best. 
We  have  to  look  very  quickly  as  they  pass,  or  they  are 
gone  before  fairly  shaped  in  the  mind,  before  we  have  seen 
enough  to  recognize  them  when  they  come  again." 

"  How  do  they  come  again  ?  " 

"In  memory." 

"  More  likely  in  some  fellow's  book.  There's  nothing 
new." 

"  Why,  that  very  thought  is  its  own  instance.  I  caught 
it  on  the  wing  and  showed  it  to  you." 

"  Like  as  not  a  dozen  men  had  caught  it  before  you  did. 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMEKICAN   NAVY.  247 

It's  a  rather  lame  bird,  anyhow,  isn't  it  ?  Did  you  never 
hear  of  flocks  of  pensive,  dove-like  reflections,  or  of  eagle 
conceptions  ?  " 

"  That's  downright  mean.  Leave  a  man  a  little  self- 
conceit,  can't  you  ?  " 

Garnet  spoke  slowly.  "I'll  tell  you  what  sometimes 
gets  into  my  head.  It  doesn't  come  and  go,  bird  fashion, 
but  descends  on  me,  solid  and  heavy,  and — unpleasant.  I 
get  to  thinking  about  life;  and  all  my  rules  of  conduct, 
external  and  internal,  seem  to  lose  their  virtue.  I  think 
about  how  I  go  on  from  hour  to  hour,  and  year  to  year, 
trying  to  keep  down  faults  and  live  up  to  my  standard ; 
and  it  appears  as  if  all  I  try  for  didn't  amount  to  much. 
Aftgr  awhile  I'll  be  old,  and  I'll  die  and  be  forgotten,  and 
other  men  will  be  in  my  place  doing  as  I  did,  to  be  for- 
gotten as  I  was.  I  think  at  such  times  that  I  have  no 
proof  of  anything  better  to  come,  or  of  any  life  at  all  here 
after  ;  and  I  ask  myself,  what's  the  use  of  it  all  ?  " 

"I  never  suspected  that  of  you." 

Garnet  took  up  a  small  sounding  lead  lying  on  the 
gangway  grating,  and  poised  it  in  his  hand.  "  Here  it  all 
is,  birth,  life,  and  death.  I  take  it  up — this  lump  of  lead 
is  a  human  soul  galvanized  by  a  foreign  force  into  a  sort 
of  life,  not  belonging  to  it  properly.  Now  I  swing  it — so- 
fashion — with  all  my  might,  and  heave  it  as  high  as  I  can." 
He  acted  as  he  spoke.  The  lead  rose  in  an  arc,  and  fell 
overboard  with  a  splash.  "  That's  a  man's  slow  laborious 
rise,  and  his  quick  easy  fall  by  the  irresistible  gravity  of- 
death.  He  makes  a  little  splash  when  we  lose  sight  of 
him,  but  the  water  gets  smooth  again  directly,  and  we 
don't  know  how  deep  he's  gone,  or  what  kind  of  bottom 
he  rests  on." 

Hartley  was  astonished.  "Why,  Garnet,  what  made 
you  heave  the  lead  overboard  ?  " 

"  Merely  by  way  of  illustration,"  replied  Garnet  coolly. 
"You  are  the  prosaic  one  this  time;  the  line  was  bent. 
Quartermaster,  haul  in  the  lead  ! "  he  ordered. 


248  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Hartley  was  a  good  deal  taken  aback  for  a  minute : 
then  he  carried  on  the  figure.  "  For  what  you  kno-w,  that 
lead  will  in  time  be  dissolved  away  by  the  water  and  rise 
in  vapor,  to  be  carried  by  the  winds  where  it  will  be 
absorbed  in  its  new  forms,  and  live  a  better  life  in  beau- 
tiful trees  and  flowers." 

"That's  too  far  away  and  uncertain.  Too  much  he 
and  •  not  enough  do.  I'm  thinking  about  a  piece  I  saw 
in  a  paper  and  got  by  heart,  years  ago.  It  was  signed 
*Yonah."' 

"  Spout  it,"  said  Hartley. 

"  Streams  that  sweep  where  thousands  languish 

On  the  mountain,  in  the  glen. 
Seaward  bear  each  cry  of  anguish        -  • 

Uttered  by  the  sons  of  men. 
Hence  it  is  that  ever  Ocean 

Hath  so  deep,  so  sad  a  moan ; 
Calm,  or  lashed  in  wild  commotion, 

Therefore  is  its  dirge-like  tone. 

Moaning  for  the  dead  and  dying 

With  its  ever-voiceful  waves  : 
For  the  countless  forms  that,  lying. 

Whiten  in  its  coral  caves. 
Earth  the  broken-hearted  pillows. 

Rivers  tell  it  to  the  sea — 
Shall  not  Ocean  with  its  billows. 

Their  eternal  mourner  be  ?  " 

«  That's  good,"  said  Hartley. 

"  It  was  called  a  translation  from  the  Greek." 

"  It  sounds  like*  the  surf  out  yonder." 

"  Have  you  written  anything  lately  ?  " 

"  One  little  thing.  I  thought  of  it  awhile  ago  when 
you  were  speaking  of  your  cui  bono" 

"Spout  it." 

"  It  is  a  translation  from  the  French,"  said  Hartley.  He 
then  repeated  slowly  the  following  lines : 


9     . 
A   STORT   OF   THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  249 

"•THE  DOVES. 

" '  On  the  slope  of  the  hill,  down  where  lie  the  tombs, 
A  beautiful  palm-tree,  like  a  green  plume 
Lifts  up  its  head,  where  at  dusk  the  doves  come 

To  nestle  and  shelter  themselves  through  the  gloom. 

But  in  the  morn  from  the  branches  they  fly, 

Like  a  necklace's  pearls  loosed  from  threaded  array : 

"We  see  them  dispersing,  white  on  the  blue  sky. 
And  settling  again  on  some  roof  far  away. 

My  soul  is  the  tree,  where  like  them,  every  even, 

Fond  foolish  fancies,  in  multitudes  white, 
With  rustling  and  trembling  of  wings  fall  from  heaven— 

But  to  vanish  again  with  the  morning's  first  light.' " 

Garnet  listened  to  him  attentively,  and  when  he  had 
done,  waited  a  minute  before  asking,  "Do  you  want  it 
criticised  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Hartley. 

His  friend  was  silent  again  for  a  minute.  He  spoke  at 
last.  "  You've  given  me  a  tough  nut  to  crack,  and  a  rough 
one.  It's  not  very  inviting  to  look  at.  I  fancy  it  isn't  a 
very  sweet  one.  I  guess  I'll  not  tackle  it.  You  know  the 
faults  of  the  verse  as  well  as  I  do.  I  don't  believe  that  sort 
of  thing  will  pay,  anyhow,  Hal?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  It  is  rough."  He  went  on  after  awhile, 
"  You  speak  of  the  painful  question  you  are  forced  to  ask 
yourself  sometimes.  I  have  just  the  same  feeling ;  but  it 
doesn't  often  come,  and  then  it  doesn't  stay  with  me  long." 

"  You  constantly  show  me  your  weak  side.  You  make 
a  poorer  showing  than  you  deserve." 

"  How's  that  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

"  You  know  you  love  change." 

"  Yes." 

"  I  see  you  trying  to  keep  that  down  before  others,  and 
sticking  to  things  that  have  grown  wearisome,  but  when 
we  are  alone  you  fly  about,  you  constantly  expose  yourself." 
11* 


250  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

Hartley  answered  good-humo redly,  "  That's  a  criti- 
cism in  place  of  the  one  you  wouldn't  give  on  the  poem. 
I  acknowledge  its  justice.  Perhaps  the  efforts  you  see  me 
making  may  l5ecome  a  second  nature." 

Another  pause,  broken  by  Hartley.  "  I  commenced  to 
ask,  awhile  ago,  about  a  strange  kirld  of  a  feeling  1  some- 
times have.  It's  as  pleasant  as  yours  is  disagreeable, 
though  it  is  an  unearthly  sort  of  pleasure.  I  feel  it  only 
when  I  have  before  me  a  great  expanse  of  land  or  water, 
with  nothing  very  striking  to  take  my  eye.  The  wind 
must  be  blowing  just  enough  to  plash  the  waves  or  rustle 
the  grass  gently,  and  the  sun  must  be  shining  and  I  must 
be  comfortable  in  body,  with  nothing  to  disturb  me.  When 
I  have  all  this  I  sometimes  fall  into  a  kind  of  trance,  which 
is  the  state  I  mean.  My  soul  seems  as  if  it  were  free  to  go 
away  if  it  wished,  as  if  it  were  hanging  in  the  air.  My 
body  is  forgotten,  though  I  still  see  and  hear.  What  I 
really  see  and  hear  has  a  sense  of  unreality  with  it.  The 
rustling  of  the  grass  or  plashing  of  the  water  seems  far 
away,  a  delicious,  dreamy  sound.  The  most  genuine  things 
are  those  which  do  not  exist,  troops  of  angels  winding  in 
squadrons  and  columns  so  long  that  the  other  ends 
are  lost  in  the  vagueness  of  infinite  distance  ;  or  myriads 
of  white  specks  darting  and  dancing  about  the  sky,  white 
feather-dust  mingling  in  whirling  volutes  in,  confused 
tracks  hopeless  to  trace.  It  may  be  a  sensuous  pleasure 
after  all,  or  may  be  the  delight  of  lulled  senses,  with  the 
mind  dreaming  freely  in  the  daytime ;  but  it  seems  almost 
heavenly.  I  always  dislike  to  have  the  trance  broken, 
though  there  is  an  inexplicable  satisfaction  about  a  gradual 
awakening.  I  felt  this  the  other  day  when  I  went  to  look 
over  the  key — while  you  were  surveying  the  river." 

"  I  have  a  touch  of  it  once  in  a  great  while.  It's  what 
the  French  call  reveriCy^  said  Garnet.  He  stopped,  and  then 
went  on  :  "  We  have  talked  a  lot  of  nonsense  to  night.  It's 
all  too  fanciful.  I  don't  like  it.  I  don't  like  these  compli- 
cated ecstasies  and  agonies,  for  they  don't  amount  to  the 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  251 

little  end  of  nothing  whittled  down  to  a  point.  If  I  must 
have  emotions,  let  them  come  in  plain,  simple  fashion.  I 
feel  out  o'  sorts  to  night,  Hal.  Guess  I'll  take  a  blue  pill 
to-morrow." 

A  blue  pill  might  have  done  Garnet  good  for  a  time, 
inasmuch  as  it  relieves  the  liver  and  brightens  the  mind  ; 
perhaps  it  was  the  best  medicine  he  could  take,  but  in  his 
case  it  could  only  palliate  the  symptoms  of  the  true  disease. 
He  spoke  again. 

"  See  yonder." 

«  What  ?  " 

"  The  midshipman  of  the  forecastle  leaning  on  the  fore- 
topsail-sheet  bitt.     I'd  bet  he's  asleep." 

«  Who  is  it  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Godolphin.  Poor  young  fellow  !  It's  hard  on  a 
growing  boy  to  lose  his  rest." 

"  There's  three   bells.     As   I   have  to   relieve   you   at 
twelve,  I'd  better  not  lose  my  rest.     Good  night,  Will." 
A  «  Au  reservoir. " 

After  he  had  been  gone  awhile,  Garnet,  observing  that 
Porp  remained  motionless,  in  the  same  position,  walked 
forward  to  see  him.  Porp  stood  with  his  head  bowed 
down  on  the  bitt,  as  though  it  were  the  altar  of  the  sweet 
slumber  he  adored ;  while  his  regular  audible  breathings 
might  have  passed  as  a  rapt  address  to  the  god.  Garnet, 
instigated  by  the  spirit  of  fun,  first  made  sure  he  was  asleep, 
and  then  lifted  his  cap  from  his  head  so  gently  as  not  to 
awaken  him,  and  carried  it  away.  He  sent  Burke  to  put  it 
on  the  lockers  in  the  steerage. 

In  a  few  minutes,  the  cool  air  striking  on  Porp's  unpro- 
tected head,  awoke  him  with  a  start. 

He  thought  he  had  been  hailed,  and  he  answered  aloud, 
"  Aye,  aye,  sir."  Then  he  went  aft  in  confusion  to  tell 
Garnet  he  did  not  understand  the  order. 

"  I  didn't  hail,  sir,"  said  Garnet. 

"  Oh,  I  thought  you— I  thought  I—" 

"  Where's  your  cap,  Mr.  Godolphin  ?  "  asked  Garnet. 


352  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"I  doirt  know,"  replied  Porp,  feeling  his  head  in  a 
bewildered  and  helpless  manner ;  "  it  dropped  off,  I  guess." 

"Better  take  care  you  don't  drop  off,  sir.  It's  very- 
strange  for  you  to  lose  your  cap  without  missing  it.  Go 
get  it." 

Porp  went  away,  and  had  a  great  hunt  on  the  forecas- 
tle, of  course  unsuccessful.  He  had  to  go  below  to  borrow 
another  head  covering.  When  he  found  his  cap  in  the 
steerage  next  day,  his  amazement  was  big,  and  the  mess 
was  i^uzzled  by  his  persistent  story.  They  agreed  together 
that  Porp  had  come  below  asleep,  and  had  got  back  on 
deck  without  awaking. 

When  Garnet's  watch  was  over,  Hartley  came  yawning 
up  the  ladder  and  relieved  him  with  the  natural  unwilling- 
ness to  keep  awake  at  night,  unless  in  company,  that  no 
quantity  of  watch-standing  can  turn  into  indifference. 

Garnet  passed  the  orders,  and  then  said,  as  he  started  to 
go  below,  "  If  you'll  look  in  the  order  book  you'll  see  that 
you  are  going  to  enjoy  a  great  pleasure  at  four.'* 

"  How  so  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

"  We  are  to  get  under  way  then,  and  you'll  have  the 
satisfaction  of  turning  in,  as  everybody  else  turns  out." 

"  There  is  something  in  that,"  avowed  Hartley  as  Gar- 
net went  below. 

Little  did  Hartley  think,  as  he  paced  steadily  out  the 
long  four  hours,  engaged  mainly  in  happy  thoughts  and 
keen  longings  for  his  beloved  one,  that  she  was  near  him, 
was  even  then  passing  in  sight  of  the  shore.  And  it  was 
well  for  him  that  he  did  not,  for  the  knowledge  would  have 
made  him  wretchedly  anxious  before  the  time. 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  253 


CHAPTER  XX. 

WHEN  the  sloop  left  Santa  Cruz  she  left  behind  her 
peculiar  feelings  of  loss,  sorrow,  vexation,  and  relief, 
in  the  cottage  of  the  Dewhursts. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  was  relieved  to  have  his  family  again  to 
himself,  while  he  was  vexed  to  remember  that  another 
man  had  gained  a  lien  on  his  daughter,  which,  though  of 
latest  date,  would  have  priority  in  the  court  of  love.  It 
annoyed  him  to  think  there  could  be  no  appeal,  that  of 
property  to  which  he  had  such  a  good  and  old  title  he  had 
been  so  quickly  and  irrecoverably  disseized  ;  and  he  had 
no  relief  in  that  philosophy  which  recalls  its  own  pairing 
days  and  resignedly  expects  the  children  to  follow  nature. 

"  Well,  dear,"  said  his  wife  one  day,  after  listening 
with  her  usual  sweet  patience  to  his  grumbling ;  "  we 
can't  help  it.  It's  only  natural  for  the  young  birds  to  leave 
the  old  nest." 

"  I  expect  them  to  go  to  boarding-school,"  he  replied, 
without  much  sequence  ;  "  and  marry,  too,  some  time ;  but 
to  accept  a  husband  so  quickly — it  takes  my  breath  away." 

"  John,  I  won't  hear  a  word  against  Mary,  for  that  very 
thing  shows  how  good  she  is.  She  hasn't  much  worldly 
wisdom,  but  I  do  hope  and  believe  she  has  made  a  good 
choice." 

He  said  no  more  at  the  time,  but  was  evidently  unsat- 
isfied. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  was  a  good  man  as  the  world  goes,  per- 
haps a  little  hard,  but  possessing  many  noble  qualities. 
He  had  forgotten  his  own  past,  which,  with  jealousy  of  his 
daughter's  love,  made  him  selfish.  Many  another  father 
has  felt  the  same. 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  was  sad.  It  was  a  mother's  sorrow 
to  think  that  her  only  child  would  go  away  after  awhile ; 
that  her  one  little  lamb  would  look  to  a  stran^r  for  hap- 


254  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

piness.  Yet  she  felt,  also,  something  of  a  mother's  satis- 
faction in  the  prospect  of  her  daughter's  being  "settled," 
and  she  had  begun  to  feel  for  Hartley  some  confidence  and 
esteem. 

Isabel  loved  Mary,  and  looked  forward  with  dread  to 
separating  from  a  cousin  in  whom  she  trusted  and  on 
whom  she  depended  for  companionship.  There  was  a 
promise  of  loneliness  which  she  knew  how  to  fear,  for  she 
had  been  lonely  much  of  her  life.  Her  reserve  never  per- 
mitted her  to  show  her  whole  heart,  however,  and  Mary 
did  not  know  her  own  dearness.  The  .  situation  made 
Isabel  remember  with  bitterness  her  dependent  position, 
and  led  her  to  wonder  if  she  should  ever  have  a  woman's 
joy  in  Joving  and  in  devoting  herself  to  a  good  man. 

Mary  was  the  happiest  of  the  four,  for  her  heart  was 
out  on  the  seas  in  good  keeping.  With  a  serene  compla- 
cency would  she  dwell  upon  the  sayings  and  doings  of  the 
absent  one.  Even  her  tender  regrets  were  all  so  mingled 
with  sweet  recollections  that  they  seemed  pleasures ;  and 
the  other  two  women  unselfishly  hid  the  dark  side  of  their 
minds,  and  let  her  be  happy.  Now  she  was  sure  she  did 
love  Henry  ;  or  rather,  she  thought  of  him  so  constantly, 
that  no  doubts  ever  came  to  trouble  her. 

A  favorite  resort  of  the  girls  was  the  summer-house 
in  the  garden,  where  they  would  pass  hours  of  the  day  in 
reading,  working,  and  chatting.  Hartley  was  very  apt  to 
receive  honorable  mention  during  the  sittings ;  in  fact, 
he  was  always  mentioned.  How  Mary  enjoyed  making 
her  shy  confidences  !  Isabel  was  usually  good,  encouraging 
her  timid  cousin,  and  avoiding  the  gentle  ironies  and  sar- 
casms which  were  natural,  to  make  her  feel  the  more  free. 
A  part  of  their  talk  one  pleasant  afternoon  when  they 
were  in  the  arbor,  with  books  for  an  excuse,  will  show  how- 
Mary  felt. 

Mary  put  down  her  novel  and  gave  a  little  yawn ;  she 
had  not  been  reading  with  much  attention  for  some  time. 
Isabel  hear^  the  signal,  closed  her  book,  and  waited. 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  255 

"  Bell,  have  you  seen  my  sacque  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you've  finished  it  at  last." 

"  Just  this  morning.     How  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

"It's  very  pretty.  The  braid  pattern  is  a  little  too 
close  to  give  the  best  effect,  but  it  is  very  pretty  and  bears 
inspection,"  answered  Isabel. 

"  I  have  been  dreadfully  idle  with  it.  I  am  really 
ashamed  to  think  how  long  I  have  been  about  it." 

"  You  had  a  good  reason,  coz.'* 

"  What  was  it  ?  "  asked  Mary. 

"  Most  of  the  time  you  were  working  on  it  somebody 
was  with  you,  and  it's  hard  to  talk  and  get  along  fast  too." 

"  That's  true,  Bell.  Why,  I  commenced  it  just  after — 
Mr.  Hartley  came  and  I  scarcely  did  anything  on  it  all  the 
while  he  was  here." 

"  And  trying  faithfully  all  the  time.  That  was  working 
under  difficulties.  Don't  call  him  Mr.  Hartley,  coz,  the 
other  sounds  better." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so  ?  I  like  the  other  best,  myself, 
but  somehow,  it  doesn't  seem  natural.  I'll  call  him  Henry 
to  you.  Bell,  but  you  mustn't  let  any  one  know."  She 
went  on,  holding  up  a  lapel  of  the  sacque  to  illustrate,  "  Just 
to  think,  the  whole  time  he  was  here  I  put  on  the  braid 
only  from  here  to  here." 

"  That  gave  you  the  right  to  upbraid  him  for  making 
you  neglect  your  work  to  listen  to  his  sea-stories." 

Mary  looked  at  her  cousin  with  a  dove-like  scornfulness. 
"  Why  Bell,  I'd  be  ashamed  !  He  didn't  tell  me  any  sea- 
stories,"  she  added. 

"  What  kind  were  they,  coz  ?  " 

"  None  at  all.  But  I  told  him  one — one  little  fib  about 
this  very  sacque.  You  know  he  left  his  horse  here  all 
night  and  I  was  making  fun  of  him  for  it,  for  thinking  so 
much  about — about  me,  you  know,  he  couldn't  think  of 
anything  else.  And  he  told  me — he  said  that  I  knew  the 
horse  was  there  too,  and  my  not  telling  father,  so  he  might 
be  sent  back,  showed — that — '* 


256  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"That  you  were  thinking  so  much  about  him,  you 
couldn't  think  of  anything  else  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  told  him  a  fib.  I  said  I  was  thinking 
about  a  pattern  for  this  sacque.     But,  he  was  right.  Bell." 

"  How  did  he  take  that  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that  was  too  silly  to  tell.  He  said — it's  too 
ridiculous ! — he  said  I  must'nt  begin  deceit  so  early  in 
married  life." 

"  Why,  he  was  doing  famously." 

"  Oh,  youVe  no  idea  !  " 

"Ofwhat,  coz2" 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Mary  demurely. 

"  Haven't  I  ?    That's  a  pity." 

After  awhile  Mary  spoke  again. 

"  Bell,  I'm  afraid  father  means  to  go  away  very  soon." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  He  has  finished  his  business  here  already,  and  you 
know  he  can't  endure  idleness.  I  think  he  is  getting  tired 
and  uneasy.     It's  too  bad  !  " 

"  Why  ?  " 

"We  have  hardly  seen  the  island  yet,  hardly  settled 
down  in  our  dear  little  house.  And  it's  so  pleasant  here. 
Just  to  think  of  going  back  to  New  York,  and  the  parties, 
-and  the  tattle,  and  scandal,  and  everything!  I  hate  it. 
I  could  stay  here  forever,  Bell,  it's  all  so  pleasant  and  beau- 
tiful. And  the  garden — think  of  leaving  it !  and  this  dear 
old  summer-house.     I  can't  bear  it !  " 

"  I  know,  coz.     Wasn't  I  with  Aunt  Susan  when — " 

"  There,  you  may  laugh  at  me,  Bell,  but  I  don't  care. 
I  have  no  one  else  to  talk  to.  It  was  here — we  sat  here  that 
afternoon,  and  I  just  love  the  place.  It's  all  vines  and 
flowers — you  couldn't  find  another  like  it  in  New  York." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  I  would,  too." 

"  And  then  if  we  go  away  before  he  comes  back — oh, 
Bell,  I  shall  not  have  a  chance  to  see  him  again  for  ever  so 
long.     It's  too  bad  !     He  will  seem  like  a  perfect  stranger." 

"  You  would  soon  get  over  the  r>>trangeness.     But  Uncle 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  257 

John  will  take  us  to  the  Havana,  and  I  should  think  there 
would  be  a  good  chance  of  finding  the  Flying  Fish  there." 

"  No,  Henry  told  me  they  were  going  to  be  nearly  all 
the  time  on  the  south  side  of  the  island." 

"  Maybe  they  will  get  a  prize,  and  I  suppose  if  he  asks 
he  could  have  the  command.  He  would  be  sUre  to  take  it 
to  New  York." 

"  But  he  told  me  they  always  make  these  middies  do 
that.  It  would  look  as  if  he  was  running  away  from  his 
place.     I  wouldn't  like  that." 

"  Well,  little  coz,  there's  many  a  chance  of  meeting." 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  it  so  much — but  I  wasn't  good  to 
him." 

Isabel  seemed  surprised.     "  Not  good  to  him ! " 

"I  wasn't  kind  to  him — there,  don't  smile.  I  know 
what  you  think ;  but.  Bell,  I  didn't  do  right  by  him." 

"Why?  how?" 

"  I — I  didn't  give  him  any  satisfaction.  I  plagued  him 
with  my  foolishness.  At  first  I  couldn't  help — you  under- 
stand, don't  you  ? — he  took  everything  for  granted,  and  I — 
didn't  say — no — but  I  felt  doubtful  all  the  time  afterward, 
and  I  was  so  mean." 

"  I  can't  understand.     How  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  could  see  he  was  anxious,  and  I  wouldn't — it 
seems  like  a  wicked  pleasure,  but  besides  I  couldn't — let 
him  know  how  I  felt.  And  I  know  he  felt  badly — instead 
of  my  sending  him  away  happy." 

"  You  did  just  right,  and  he  thinks  more  of  you  to-day 
for  it.  You  have  plenty  of  time  to  make  it  up  to  him. 
Did  he  ever  ask  you  to  name  the  day  ?  " 

"The  idea!     No!" 

"  He  will  be  sure  to  ask  you  the  next  time  he  sees  you. 
And,  Mary,  take  my  advice,  and  don't  put  him  ofi"  any 
longer  than  you  can  help." 

"  Oh,  there's  plenty  of  time." 

"  No.  He  is  good,  Mary,  and  he  loves  you,  and  there's 
no  reason  to  keep  him  waiting  for  his  happiness.     You 


258  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

will  be  happier,  too.  I  am  not  advising  you  to  act  against 
uncle's  and  aunt's  wishes,  but  they  will  let  you  do  as  you 
please." 

"  You  are  in  more  haste  than  I  am.  Bell." 

"  I  am  sure  it  is  best.     You  had  better  think  about  it." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  replied  Mary,  dubiously. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  was  getting  impatient  of  his  long  in- 
action. Deprived  of  his  newspaper,  his  familiar  associa- 
tions, and  his  business  occupations,  he  fretted  in  idleness 
as  active  men  always  fret.  His  health  seemed  entirely 
restored,  and  to  his  mind,  leisure,  a  perfect  climate,  aud 
the  beauties  of  nature  were  no  reasons  for  lingering.  Day 
by  day  his  impatience  grew,  and  his  resolution  became 
firmer  to  go  at  the  first  opportunity. 

The  opportunity  came  in  the  course  of  time,  in  the 
shape  of  an  hermaphrodite  brig,  the  Sarah  and  Jane,  out 
of  Baltimore,  with  a  cargo  of  flour  for  Havana.  A  variety 
of  untoward  circumstances  had  forced  her  thus  far  to  the 
east  and  into  Santa  Cruz.  She  was  deeply  laden,  was  a 
very  bad  sailer,  and  had  poor  accommodations  for  ladies  ; 
but  Mr.  Dewhurst  would  have  gone  in  a  still  shabbier 
craft,  rather  than  remain  in  the  island  which  had  become 
to  him  a  prison.  He  made  all  arrangement  necessary 
with  Captain  Dodson,  the  slow-spoken,  slow-moving  mas- 
ter ;  and  when  the  Sarah  and  Jane  left  the  harbor  a  week 
later  she  carried  the  whole  family. 

Mary  left  the  place  which  was  so  endeared  to  her  mind, 
with  a  sentimental  sorrow  none  the  less  real  because  roman- 
tic. Not  only  was  her  aiFection  for  Hartley  now  evident  to 
herself,  but  she  loved  the  spots  where  he  had  been,  and  the 
arbor  in  which  he  had  so  decidedly  taken  possession  of  her 
was  doubly  dear.  She  went  alone  into  the  summer-house 
to  bid  it  good-by,  and  she  shed  a  few  tears  at  leaving  it. 
Perhaps  it  was  partly  because  she  was  reminded  of  the 
happy  past,  the  absent  lover,  and  the  doubtful  future,  that 
she  cried. 

The  Sarah  and  Jane  ran  to  the  westward  with  favor- 


A   STORY    OF   THE    AMEPwICAN    NAVY.  259 

able  winds,  making  something  over  a  hundred  miles  a  day 
and  meeting  no  incidents  to  break  the  monotony  of  the 
passage.  The  ladies  spent  their  time  much  more  agreeably 
than  Mr.  Dewhurst,  whose  chafing  spirit  suffered  tortures. 
They  had  their  sewing  and  a  few  books,  and  they  often 
passed  time  in  sitting  on  deck  watching  the  mountains  of 
Porto  Rico  and  Hayti,  by  which  the  brig  crept  lazily.  On 
the  morning  of  the  eighth  day,  they  passed  between  Point 
Morant  and  Cape  Tiburon,  and  that  evening  the  wind 
shifted  dead  ahead.  In  the  night  the  brig  made  a  long 
tack  toward  Cuba,  going  about  off  Santiago  at  the  time 
when  Hartley  was  standing  the  middle  watch  unconscious 
of  the  nearness  of  his  sleeping  beauty.  They  were  then 
fifteen  weary  days  in  beating  up  to  the  western  end  of  the 
island.  They  went  to  bed  one  night  wearied  out,  but  con- 
gratulating themselves  that  in  a  few  hours  they  would 
round  Cape  San  Antonio,  and  that  two  days  more  at  the 
farthest  would  place  them  in  the  Havana. 

Their  hopes  were  delusive.  A  gale  of  wind  arose  with 
disheartening  quickness  in  the  night,  and  when  morning 
dawned  the  sea-sick  party  were  told  that  they  were  many 
miles  east  of  the  last  evening^s  position.  The  heavily 
laden  brig  was  pitching  very  deeply,  burying  her  bows  in 
the  sea  at  every  plunge,  and  rising  painfully,  while  walls 
of  green  water  boarded  her,  ran  aft  in  floods  over  the  deck 
and  battened  hatches,  and  poured  over  the  rail  and  through 
the  scuppers  in  constant  cascades.  The  concussion  of 
heavy  waves  striking  her,  the  continuous  swash  of  the 
water,  the  howling  of  the  wind,  and  the  noise  of  the  work- 
ing  timbers,  kept  the  women  in  a  state  of  doleful  alarm ; 
beside  which,  the  whole  party  suffered  from  a  second  attack 
of  sea-sickness  brought  on  by  the  unusual  and  violent 
motion. 

Isabel,  more  courageous  than  the  other  two,  ventured 
to  raise  her  head  above  the  booby-hatch  and  take  a  survey 
of  the  scene.  In  a  second  her  hair  was  soaked  with  salt 
spray,  and  was  streaming   and  whipping  at   its  full  fine 


^GO  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

length  in  the  wind.  She  retreated  quickly.  Her  account 
of  the  commotion  of  sea  and  sky  was  not  reassuring  to 
her  aunt  and  cousin. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  took  to  his  bunk,  and  stuck  there  the  gale 
through  with  a  sullen,  uncomplaining  stoicism. 

The  strength  of  the  wind  increased  to  such  a  point  that 
Captain  l^odson  got  in  all  sail  but  the  balance-reefed  main- 
sail, and  with  vast  philosophy  let  his  brig  lay  to  and  drift. 
He  spent  most  of  the  time  below  in  the  cuddy-hole  of  a 
cabin,  stifling  the  sick  ladies  with  the  fumes  of  bad  tobacco, 
and  telling  tales  of  shipwreck  to  enliven  them. 

Four  long  days  and  nights  the  Sarah  and  Jane  plunged 
•and  wallowed,  pitched  and  rolled,  stood  first  on  one  end 
and  then  on  the  other,  and  drifted  rapidly  all  the  while. 
Then  the  gale  left  her  as  quickly  as  it  had  arisen.  In  ex- 
cellent time,  too,  for  land  was  in  sight  on  three  sides.  They 
had  been  blown  back  on  their  course  the  entire  length  of 
Cuba,  and  were  in  the  bay  of  Gonaives  on  the  west  side 
of  Hayti. 

*'  La,  suz  !  "  said  Dodson,  looking  around  at  the  land, 
*'  I  never  see  the  likes.  I  expect  we'd  better  git  a  little 
sail  on  her  to  steady  her  a  bit."  The  sea  was  running  very 
high  still,  the  waves  almost  glassy  in  their  smoothness;  and, 
with  no  canvas  out  to  catch  the  small  breeze,  the  brig  was 
rolling  fearfully.  The  imperturbable  Dodson,  his  equa- 
nimity in  no  wise  disturbed  by  lost  time  or  past  dangers, 
lighted  his  pipe,  deliberately  made  sail,  and  leisurely 
repaired  the  damages  of  the  storm.  He  headed  the  Sarah 
and  Jane  to  the  west  again,  and  the  wind  steadying  in  the 
north,  made  very  fair  progress  on  the  old  course. 

But  more  troubles  were  in  waiting.  Twenty-four  hours 
brought  the  brig  close  to  that  eastern  portion  of  the  south 
coast  which  resembles  the  sole  of  a  misshappen  foot.  Like 
Hiram  Doolittle,  Dodson  shaved  the  points  too  close.  In 
broad  daylight,  a  handsome  top-sail  schooner,  with  long 
spars,  ran  out  of  a  creek  a  mile  or  two  ahead  and  stood 
down  wing  and  wing  to  intercept  the   Sarah  and  Jane, 


L   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAYY.  201 

This  pretty  craft  was  our  old  acquaintance  La  Hem- 
brill  a. 

Dodson  called  Mr.  Dewhurst  on  deck  and  pointed  out 
the  schooner.  "Purty  boat,  ain't  she?"  he  asked  that 
gentleman  between  two  puffs., 

"  Yes,"  replied  he ;  "  but  she  doesn't  look  like  a  mer- 
chantman.    Is  she  a  man-of-war  ?  " 

"  I  suspicion  she  ain't  no  man  o*  peace,"  replied  Dodson, 
with  some  gloom. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  man  ?  " 

"  I  expect  that  is  a  pirit." 

Mr.  Dewhurst  looked  at  Dodson  incredulously.  "  Why 
are  we  going  to  meet  her  then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Pm  willin'  to  avide  a  meetin,  but  there  ain't  no  chance. 
He  sails  two  knots  to  our  one." 

"  We  must  run  back  to  Santiago." 

"  No,  too  fur  past,"  answered  Dodson. 

"  Well,  we  can  fight,  anyhow." 

"  Tain't  no  use,  sir,  tain't  no  use — he's  got  thirty  men  on 
his  deck,  and  a  gun,  too ;  you  can  see  for  yourself  with 
the  glass.     And  we  hain't  got  but  twelve." 

"  Captain  Dodson,"  said  Mr.  Dewhurst,  "  I  insist  on 
your  trying  to  escape.  You  have  your  cargo  to  account 
for  to  your  owners,  and  I  promise  you  I  will  hold  you 
strictly  responsible  for  any  harm  that  comes  to  my  family.'* 

Dodson  was  philosophic,  as  usual.  In  his  wisdom  he 
thought  that  the  pirates  would  be  unlikely  to  do  more  than 
stop  his  brig  ;  for  she  was  old,  ugly,  and  slow,  and  would  be 
useless  to  them.  He  thought  they  might  take  a  part  of  his 
flour,  but  was  willing  to  pay  a  moderate  toll  for  the  sake 
of  peace.  He  felt  sure  that  they  would  detain  his  passen- 
gers, but  that  would  be  an  endurable  loss,  especially  since 
their  passage  was  paid.  Altogether,  he  doubtless  did  the 
best  he  could  for  himself.  "  I  tell  you  tain't  no  use  to  run," 
said  he.  '*  We're  most  in  shootin'  distance,  and  I  don't 
want  to  be  no  target  for  a  big  gun.     Runnin'  away  '11  only 


262  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

errytate  'em,  and  they  don't  never  hurt  nobody  that  gives 
up  peaceable.     Maybe  they  ain't  pirits." 

"I  shall  hold  you  accountable,  sir;  you  stand  to  lose 
your  certificate,"  said  Mr.  Dewhurst  in  his  excitement. 
"  Good  Lord  !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  piteous  voice,  "  what 
will  become  of  my  poor  wife  and  daughter  !  " 

"I  reckon,"  remarked  Dodson,  with  reasuring  calm- 
ness, "  it'll  cost  you  as  much  as  a  thousand  dollars  apiece, 
for  you  to  get  'em  to  the  Havana."  He  explained  to  Mr. 
Dewhurst  that  ransom  was  a  certainty,  but  warned  him 
that  he  had  heard  in  Santa  Cruz  that  the  passengers  were 
rich,  and  that  if  the  pirates  learned  so,  the  ransom  would 
be  proportionately  large. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  was  greatly  relieved.  As  his  fears  for 
his  womenkind  departed,  his  presence  of  mind  and  ability 
to  think  returned.  He  went  down  into  the  cabin  and 
explained  the  awkward  situation  to  the  trio  there,  but  in 
such  a  manner  as  not  to  alarm  them.  In  this  he  was 
assisted  by  the  idea  of  ransom  on  which  he  dwelt.  He 
explained  how  necessary  it  was  to  make  an  unpretending 
appearance,  and  then  he  collected  all  the  valuable  jewels 
the  ladies^  had  with  them,  and  tied  them  up  in  a  box,  into 
which  he  placed  weight  enough  to  insure  speedy  sinking. 
It  was  his  intention  to  drop  it  quietly  overboard,  as  soon 
as  he  was  positive  the  strange  vessel  was  a  pirate.  For- 
tunately he  had  but  a  small  sum  on  hand  in  ready  cash, 
aud  the  ladies  had  with  them  only  simple  and  moderate 
wardrobes.  They  yielded  up  their  treasures  sadly,  with 
the  doubtful  comfort  that  it  was  better  to  throw  them  away 
than  to  be  robbed.  Mr.  Dewhurst  left  a  few  ornaments  to 
avoid  a  suspicious  plainness,  and  returned  to  the  deck  with 
the  box  under  his  coat. 

La  Ilembrilla  was  about  half  a  mile  away,  with  her 
head-sheets  hauled  over,  waiting  the  arrival  of  the  Sarah 
and  Jane.  That  gallant  craft  ran  down  near  her,  and,  as 
if  she  were,  keeping  an  appointment,  or  knew  that  there 
was  business  on  hand  that  would  not  bear  delay,  she  hove 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  263 

to  without  even  waiting  to  be  hailed.  Directly  a  four- 
oared  boat  left  the  pirate,  and  pulling  rapidly  across  the 
intervening  hundred  yards  of  water,  ran  along  side  the 
brig.  The  burly  first  mate  of  La  Hembrilla  sat  in  the 
stern-sheets  steering,  and  his  four  men  were  Well  armed. 
As  soon  as  he  reached  the  side  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane, 
Arrowson  sprang  on  her  deck,  followed  by  his  men.  He 
drew  a  pistol,  glanced  at  the  forecastle,  where  the  brig's 
crew  stood  like  so  many  frightened  sheep,  and  ordering  his 
men  to  stay  in  the  waist,  marched  aft.  "  I  take  possession 
o'  this  'ere  brig,"  he  cried.  Nobody  answered  a  word  for  a 
minute,  when  Mr.  Dewhurst  asked,  "By  what  authority?" 
Arrowson  answered  with  a  triumphant  burst  of  profanity, 
that  it  was  because  he  pleased.  "  You're  the  cap'n,  are 
you  ?  "  he  asked  insolently.  "  No,"  answered  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst, "there  he  is." 

Arrowson  turned  to  the  unfortunate  Dodson,  who  was 
speechlessly  smoking  his  pipe,  and  poured  upon  him  the 
vials  of  contemptuous  invective.  He  cursed  him  for  a 
coward  and  a  sneak ;  told  him  that  he  had  a  mind  to  tie  a 
shot  to  his  neck  and  heave  him  overboard ;  reviled  him 
scornfully  for  being  too  chicken-hearted  even  to  run ;  and 
covered  him  with  nasty  abuse.  "  And  you're  the  cap'n  !  " 
he  exclaimed  in  sneering  scorn.  Dodson,  who  had  not  yet 
uttered  a  word,  made  no  reply  but  to  blow  out  his  smoke. 
Arrowson  went  on,  "  A  'ell  of  a  cap'n,  hain't  you  ?  "  This 
being  an  inconvenient  question  to  answer,  Dodson  was  still 
mute.  "  Speak !  ye  dumb  stock-fish !  "  roared  Arrowson  in 
a  rage,  and  he  knocked  the  pipe  out  of  Dodson's  mouth. 

"  You  oughtn't  to  do  that-away,"  said  Dodson  in  meek 
remonstrance,  looking  regretfully  at  the  scattered  pipe 
sherds. 

"Shut  your  mouth,  you  or  I'll  shut  it  for  you 

with  a  swab  ! "  cursed  the  mate,  who  went  on  to  repeat 
his  former  blessing,  if  possible,  intensified. 

While  the  attention  of  every  body  was  drawn  to  this 
scene,  Mr.  Dewhurst  managed  to  drop  his  little  box  over- 


204  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

board  unnoticed,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  its 
white  descending  spiral  grow  fainter  and  fainter,  until  the 
blue  water  hid  it  from  sight. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


¥HEN  Arrowson  had  finished  his  abuse,  he  proceeded 
to  business.  "  Who  are  you  ?  "  he  asked  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst. 

"  John  Dewhurst.     I'm  a  passenger  in  this  vessel." 

**  Hany  more  passengers  ?  " 

"  My  wife,  and  daughter,  and  niece,  are  all." 

"  Say,  you  cap'n,  get  hevery  body  lion  deck  this  minute. 
Cover  the  'atches,  boys,  when  they're  hall  hup,  and  let 
none  go  below." 

Mr.  Dewhurst  called  his  family,  who  at  once  came  up, 
frightened  and  anxious  to  be  with  him. 

"  D — d  pretty  gals,"  said  Arrowson. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  tried  to  restrain  his  rage  at  these  words 
and  the  chuckle  that  followed  them,  by  taking  them  as 
a  part  of  the  insolence  he  must  expect,  and  to  which  he 
could  only  submit. 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  ?  "  asked  Arrowson. 

"New  York." 

"  What  are  you  down  'ere  for  ?  " 

"  For  my  health,  and  on  business  for  the  house  in  New 
York,"  replied  Mr.  Dewhurst." 

"And  hit  aint  so  'elthy  as  you  hexpected,  hey  ?  That 
'ouse  in  New  York  will  'ave  to  stay  hempty  awhile  now," 
said  Arrowson,  laughing  at  his  own  wit.  "  Come  'ere,  you 
cap'n  feller  !     What's  your  name  ?  " 

"Richard  Dodson,"  he  answered,  approaching. 

"  Dods,  hey  !     Ought  to  be  Clods." 

"  Dodson,"  corrected  the  captain.  9 


A    STOKY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  205 

**  D — n  the  difference  !     What  are  you  loaded  with  ?  " 

Dodson  told  him,  and  after  asking  other  questions, 
Arrowson  hailed  the  schooner  for  the  captain  to  come  on 
board.  A  second  boat,  manned  like  the  first,  soon  came, 
bringing  Hackett. 

He  was  a  tall  man,  stooping  and  lean,  but  strongly- 
built,  with  sunken  but  bright  gray  eyes,  thin  straggling 
sandy  hair  and  beard,  a  hooked  nose,  and  the  parchment 
and  brick-dust  complexion  common  among  seamen.  He 
stepped  on  the  deck  quietly,  looked  about  him  and  aloft 
with  a  quick  sailorly  glance,  and  joined  his  li<?utenant.  A 
low  conversation  ensued.  When  it  was  ended,  he  renewed 
the  order  to  keep  everybody  on  deck,  and  after  getting  all 
the  keys  in  the  ship  he  went  below,  having  hardly  looked 
at  the  prisoners.  He  took  six  of  his  own  men  and  Captain 
Dodson,  and  was  gone  for  an  hour,  during  which  time, 
seemingly  very  long,  the  Dewhursts  remained  standing  aft 
together,  filled  with  forebodings. 

The  search  ended,  the  party  returned  on  deck,  and 
Hackett  approached  Mr.  Dewhurst.  "Mr.  Dewhurst," 
said  he,  in  a  respectful  tone,  "  I'm  agoin'  to  put  you  and 
your  folks  aboard  my  schooner.  You  can  take  some  o' 
your  men  and  get  your  trunks  into  the  boats." 

The  ladies  were  greatly  relieved  by  the  contrast  between 
Hackett 's  manner  and  that  of  his  mate,  and  Mr.  Dewhurst 
was  moved  to  reply  with  some  courtesy,  **  I  am  obliged 
to  you,  sir." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  party  stood  on  the  deck  of  La 
Hembrilla,  and  the  boats  quickly  brought  over  Dodson 
and  a  part  of  his  crew.  Twelve  of  the  pirate's  men  were 
put  on  board  the  brig,  with  one  of  the  best  seamen  in 
charge ;  and  the  two  vessels'filled  away  and  stood  to  the 
southward  in  company. 

The  change  was  so  great,  and   had   been   so   quickly 

made,  that   not  till  then   could  the  translated   travellers 

realize  what  had  happened.     For  half  an  hour  they  stood 

gazing  on  the  motley  crowd  of  men  from  all  nations,  who 

12 


266  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

alternately  lounged  idly  about  and  sprung  to  carry  out  the 
orders  of  their  officers;  at  the  beautiful  condition  in  which 
the  vessel  was  kept,  her  clean  decks,  bright  brass  work, 
shining  twelve-pounder  gun  amidship,  graceful  taper 
spars,  and  great  white  sails.  Not  that  La  Hembrilla  had 
much  sail  set  at  the  time.  She  had  been  obliged  to  take 
in  everything  but  jib  and  mainsail,  in  order  not  to  run 
away  from  the  brig,  who  carried  all  her  studding  sails. 

When  Hackett  returned  from  the  Sarah  and  Jane,  he  at 
once  set  the  lowly  freebooter  who  acted  as  his  cook,  at 
work  preparing  the  cabin  to  receive  the  ladies.  In  half  an 
hour  it  was  ready.  Hackett  had  left  his  prisoners  alone  as 
before,  but  now  told  them  something  of  his  disposition  and 
intentions.  "I  guess  you  might  jest  as  well  know  what  I 
am  goin'  to  do  with  you,"  said  he  to  the  party,  which 
included  Dodson  and  his  mate.  "  I'll  land  you  on  Cuby  in 
three  or  four  days,  and  keep  you  there  awhile.  You'll 
have  a  chance  to  send  over-to  Matanzas,  or  anywheres 
else  you  want  to,  to  raise  a  little  s'thin  to  pay  for  your 
board.  Mr.  Dewhurst,  you  and  the  other  two  will  have  to 
take  the  spare  bunks  in  ,the  mate's  cabin.  I've  fixed  up  my 
own  cabin  to  make  it  as  convenient  for  the  ladies  as  I 
could.  We  don't  of'en  have  such  good  company,  and  don't 
keep  ready  for  it,  so  you  must  allow  for  us  if  everythin' 
isn't  quite  comfable.  Now,  ladies,  if  you'll  just  step  below, 
I'll  show  you  your  quarters." 

Hackett's  tone  was  one  of  hospitality,  exactly  such  as 
the  owner  of  a  yacht  might  use  toward  unexpected  but 
welcome  guests.  Mrs.  Dewhurst  looked  appealingly  to  her 
husband.  "  Certainly,  my  dear,"  he  said,  answering  her 
unspoken  question.  "  Can  I  see  my  husband  again  to-day, 
sir  ?  "  she  asked  Hackett. 

"  Of  course  you  can,  if  you  want  to,  ma'am,"  replied 
he.  "  You  and  the  other  ladies  make  yourselves  free  to  go 
and  come,  just  as  you  please.  Come  down  with  us,  Mr. 
Dewhurst."  Thereupon  Mrs.  Dewhurst,  gathering  in  her 
skirts  and  followed  by  the  girls,  went  down  the  ladder  after 
Hackett  and  her  husband. 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  267 

The  cabin,  which  had  the  size  of  a  room  fifteen  feet 
square,  though  differing  much  in  dimensions  and  shape,  was 
a  sufficiently  comfortable  place.  The  ceiling  was  only  six 
feet  from  the  deck,  which  gave  a  sense  of  contraction,  but 
in  other  respects  it  was  all  very  pleasant.  The  shape  of 
the  room  was  irregular,  being  several  feet  narrower  at  the 
end  toward  the  stern,  because  the  size  of  the  vessel  made  it 
needful  to  use  all  her  space.  On  either  side  a  wide  settee 
ran  the  whole  length  of  the  cabin,  with  a  double  covering 
of  three  pairs  of  broad  cushions  in  snowy  linen  cases. 
There  was  no  sign  of  war  or  violence  in  displayed  weapons, 
but  all  looked  peaceable  and  well-meaning. 

"Here's  our  beds,"  said  Hackett,  with  a  slight  pride 
perceivable  in  his  voice  "  and  here's  how  to  make  'em." 
He  pulled  out  the  panel  in  the  front  of  the  settee,  showing 
that  it  swung  out  on  hinges  at  the  top,  and  that  as  it  was 
brought  to  a  horizontal  position,  jointed  legs  unfolded 
themselves,  dropping  by  their  own  weight,  and  sustained 
it  with  their  lower  ends  resting  on  the  deck.  This  formed 
a  shelf  as  high  and  as  wide  as  the  top  of  the  settee.  He 
slid  out  the  upper  of  one  of  the  pairs  of  cushions  upon  this 
shelf,  to  whose  edge  it  exactly  reached  ;  the  two  cushions, 
side  and  side,  thus  making  a  nice  couch. 

"  There  !  "  said  Hackett,  "  that's  an  idear  o'  my  own, 
ladies.  That's  a  good  enough  bed  for  any  body  at  sea. 
There  isn't  any  thin'  under  the  settees — you  can  just  stow 
your  dirty  clothes  away  under  there,  and  when  we  go 
ashore  I  guess  we  can  get  some  of  the  women  to  do  your 
washin'." 

Isabel,  who  had  entirely  recovered  herself,  was  much 
amused.  "  It's  very  nice,  sir,"  said  she  to  Hackett,  with  a 
sweet  smile. 

"  Wa-al — neow  —  ya-as,"  replied  the  gentle  pirate, 
pleased  by  the  approbation.  "  You  see  these  here  lockers." 
He  unbuttoned  a  door  of*  one  of  the  deep  closets  he  called 
lockers,  and  showed  them  its  contents.  "  There's  a  plenty 
o'  bed  clothes  in  here,  pillers,  sheets,  everythin'  you  want. 


26S  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

I  reckon  you'd  better  make  your  beds  yourselves  :  my  man 
ain't  used  to  doin'  for  ladies.  'Tain't  worth  your  while 
to  take  your  clothes  out  o'  your  trunks,  cause  you'll  have 
to  pack  up  again  so  soon,  but  you  can  use  the  lockers  if 
you're  a  mind  to." 

By  this  time  the  ladies  had  become  somewhat  used  to 
their  new  abode,  and  the  disengaged  manners  of  their  cap- 
tor made  them  feel  easy.  The  cabin  had  a  home-like  and 
attractive  look  which  also  influenced  them.  The  sides 
and  ceiling  and  floor  were  painted  white,  tending  to  make 
the  place  light,  though  the  only  windows  were  massive 
glass  bull's  eyes  set  in  the  deck,  above.  The  trunks  sat 
against  the  bulkheads  with  the  keys  in  the  locks,  and  each 
lady,  as  she  caught  sight  of  them,  could  not  restrain  a  burn- 
ing curiosity  to  know  how  many  of  her  things  were  gone. 
There  was  a  long  gilt  mirror  against  the  partition,  surely 
a  token  of  civilization  and  a  cause  for  satisfaction. 

"  I  forgot  to  tell  you,"  continued  Hackett.  "  There's  a 
little  wash-room  at  the  foot  o'  the  ladder — that'n  on  the  star- 
board side — on  your  left  hand,  there.  I'd  a  little  ruther  you 
wouldn't  go  into  the  other  one,  for  it's  my  signal  room. 
There's  a  plenty  o'  towels — but  I  ain't  got  any  thin'  better'n 
a  tin  basin,"  he  added  regretfully.  "  Well — that's  all — no, 
here's  this  screen." 

He  showed  them  a  handsome  crimson  curtain,  hanging 
by  brass  rings  on  a  rod  which  ran  fore  and  aft  through  the 
middle  of  the  cabin  near  the  ceiling.  It  was  now  slid 
against  the  mirror.  "  You  see,  ladies,  I  just  had  this  put 
up  sence  you  come  aboard,  so  you  can  have  it  private  when 
you  want  to.  All  you  got  to  do  is  to  slide  it  along — so. 
Here's  your  side,  to  larboard,  and  nobody  '11  trouble  you 
when  you've  got  the  screen  drawed  to." 

"  Oh,  its  quite  nice,"  murmured  Mrs.  Dewhurst. 

"  It's  nicer  than  the  Sarah  and  Jane,"  said  Mary  timidly. 

Isabel  laughed  out  frankly  and'gayly.  "It  isn't  fair  to 
compare  the  Sarah  and  Jane  with  your  pretty  vessel, 
Captain — " 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  269 

"Hackett,  ma'am,"   supplied   he   blandly. 

"  Captain  Hackett.  We  shall  be  a  great  deal  more  com- 
fortable here,  and  we  are  ever  so  much  obliged  to  you  for 
taking  so  much  trouble." 

"  I  don't  count  the  trouble,  ma'am.  I  know  good 
company  when  I  see  it,  and  I  like  it  as  well  as  any  man. 
I  dpn't  ofen  get  it,  but  I'm  willin'  to  lay  myself  out  when 
I  do.  I  took  a  ship  once  off  the  north  coast,  and  there  was 
a  Spanish  lady  aboard.  She  was  ashore  with  us  the  best 
part  of  a  month  before  she  heard  from  her  friends  in 
Matanzas  ;  and  though  I  done  everythin'  I  could  to  make 
her  comf  able  in  my  own  house,  she  wouldn't  hardly  speak 
to  me." 

The  latter  part  of  the  ingenuous  statement  was  made  in 
a  grieved  tone,  as  though  he  thought  the  Spanish  lady  had 
not  treated  him  quite  right.  "  Now,  ladies,"  he  went  on, 
"  make  yourselves  to  hum.  If  I  can  do  anythin'  for  you 
be  sure  to  let  me  know.  You  can  go  anywheres  you  want 
to,  but  I  guess  you  better  keep  aft,  for  my  men  are  pretty 
rough.  I'm  sorry  I  can't  accommodate  you  down  here 
too,  Mr.  Dewhurst,  but  you  see  there  ain't  no  room.  Call 
in,  and  stay  as  long's  you're  a  mind  whenever  you  want  to 
see  the  ladies." 

"  I  am  exceedingly  obliged  to  you,  sir,"  replied  Mr. 
Dewhurst. 

"  Captain  Hackett,"  put  in  Isabel  vivaciously,  "  we 
shall  not  find  another  way  of  travelling  half  as  nice  as  your 
vessel.  As  long  as  we  are  with  you,  you  had  better  take 
us  on  to  the  Havana." 

"  Muchobleged,  ma'am.     I  would  like  it  myself  but — " 

"  It  would  save  us  a  good  deal  of  time,  and  if  it's  out  of 
your  way,  I'm  sure  Mr.  Dewhurst  would  be  willing  to  pay 
for  our  passage." 

*'  Yes,  if  I  could,"  said  he. 

"  I  guess  your  pa  and  me  had  better  talk  it  over.  You 
must  excuse  me  now,  for  I've  got  to  go  on  deck  and  take  a 
departure."     So  saying,  he  left  thera. 


270  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Mr.  Dewliurst's  varying  expression  of  countenance  dur- 
ing the  conversation  was  pregnant  with  feeling,  and  would 
have  amused  a  looker-on.  Surprise  at  the  peculiar  situa- 
tion, gladness  that  matters  were  no  worse,  vexation  at  the 
attentions  a  rascal  of  a  pirate  was  showing  to  his  woman- 
kind, amusement  at  the  said  pirate's  ingenuous  pride  in  his 
nice  properties  and  at  his  lack  of  conventionality,  suspicion 
at  having  to  leave  the  ladies  at  night,  and  gratitude  for 
the  unexpected  comforts  he  saw  bestowed — all  ran  through 
his  mind  and  over  his  unguarded  face.  When  they  were 
left  alone  he  spoke,  commencing  dubiously,  then  getting 
angry,  then  laughing  in  spite  of  himself.  "I  suppose  we 
had  better  make  the  best  of  it.  It  might  be  worse — but 
I'll  have  a  pretty  penny  to  pay  before  we  are  free.  The 
scoundrel  !  what  does  he  mean  by  talking  to  you  in  that 
free  and  easy  manner  ? — talking  about  your  beds  and  your 
soiled  clothes."  His  face  relaxed  and  he  had  to  laugh. 
Isabel  joined  him  heartilyj  while  a  faint  smile  appeared 
even  on  the  woful  countenance  of  Mrs.  Dewhurst. 

Presently  a  decently  dressed  and  respectful  negro  man 
came  in,  made  the  cabin  tidy,  and  set  the  table  with  dex- 
terity. At  supper,  which  followed  soon,  he  waited  on  thera. 
Captain  Hackett  invited  Mr.  Dewhurst  to  mess  with  them; 
and  he  sat  down.at  the  foot  of  the  table — there  was  no  head 
but  the  bulkhead — and  did  the  honors  in  very  good  style. 
Mrs.  Dewhurst  was  so  much  impressed  by  his  manner  that 
she  expected  him  to  say  grace,  remembering  only  in  time 
to  arrest  half-way  in  much  confusion  the  pious  forward  in- 
clination of  her  head.  The  circumstance  did  not  escape 
Isabel  who,  in  nautical  parlance,  had  her  weather  eye  open  ; 
and  she  had  hard  work  not  to  laugh  out.  In  after  days 
she  teased  Aunt  Susan  a  good  deal  about  it. 

Hackett  wished  to  make  his  guests  feel  easy,  and  he  was 
quite  chatty — filling  in,  himself,  when  necessary,  the  parts 
of  the  talk  belonging  to  the  others.  Among  the  rest  he  told 
them,  taking  advantage  of  his  servant's  absence,  how  that 
servant  had  misbehaved.     "  You  see,  ladies,  Cato  belonged 


A    STOEY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  271 

to  a  man  down  in  Maryland,  that  learnt  him  to  cook,  and 
black  boots,  and  read,  and  one  thing  or  'nother — leastways 
he  had  him  learnt,  for  I  reckon  he  was  too  big  a  bug  to 
spend  his  time  learnin'  niggers — and  he  used  him  for  a 
body-servant.  He  had  occasion  to  go  to  New  York,  and 
like  a  darn  fool — beg  your  pardon,  ladies — he  took  Cato 
along  with  him.  Wa-a-a-al,  Cato  deserted.  My  mate,  he 
come  acrost  him  and  shipped  him,  but  I  wish  he  had'nt. 
Cato's  pious  " — he  emphasized  the  word  with  a  slight  sneer 
— "and  then  he's  slow,  and  my  mate's  quick,  so  he  had  a 
pretty  considerable  hard  time  till  I  took  him.  He  run  off 
a  fortnight  or  so  ago,  and  somehow  joined  another  party, 
and  got  captured  by  a  man-o'-war — there's  a  States'  sloop 
cruisin'  off  here — I've  seen  her  once  or  twice  myself" — a 
faint  expression  of  satisfaction  was  visible  to  Isabel's 
watchful  eyes,  though  the  hard  lines  remained  unchanged 
and  he  did  not  pause — "  and  one  day  when  this  party  I 
was  speakin  of  was  towin'  a  brig  they  had  took  in  shore, 
the  sloop  come  along  and  sent  some  boats  in  and  got  her 
back.  The  men  got  off  in  their  boats — all  but  Cato — he 
wa'n't  quick  enough,  and  he  got  took.  Wa-a-a-1,  they 
went  off  and  anchored  so  nigh  shore,  that  Cato  slipped 
overboard  with  his  irons  on,  and  swum  ashore,  and  come 
back  to  me.  He's  done  pretty  well  sence  I  got  him  in 
here."  He  talked  away  on  indifferent  subjects  until  the 
meal  was  done;  and  then,  repeating  his  offers  of  assistance, 
went  on  deck. 

The  little  family  passed  a  dismal  evening  together, 
none  of  them  venturing  into  the  open  air.  Mr.  Dewhurst 
left  them  reluctantly  at  a  late  >  hour,  going  to  the  mate's 
cabin,  to  his  own  bunk,  which  he  had  already  examined 
and  disliked ;  and  the  ladies  made  up  their  beds  on  the 
settees  and  turned  in  all  standing.  It  is  a  peculiarity  of 
ladies  at  sea  to  do  this  on  all  occasions  which  to  their 
minds  seem  doubtful.  If  they  must  die,  they  desire  the 
assistance  of  a  decorous  costume.  These  ladies  had  no 
disturbance,  further  than  that  caused  by  Mr.  Benjamin 


272  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Markley,  who  got  too  drunk,  and  persisted  in  singing 
"  God  save  the  king,"  for  several  hours,  in  a  voice  more 
powerful  than  sweet,  and  distinctly  audible  through  the 
bulkhead.  In  fact,  all  that  was  spoken  in  the  mate's  room 
was  more  or  less  plainly  heard  in  the  cabin.  After  he 
.ceased  his  disconnected  warblings,  they  found  it  hard 
restrain  their  excited  imaginations,  eager  for  wildest 
vagaries ;  and  sleep  was  not  immediately  possible. 

Next  morning  Mr.  Dewhurst  was  on  deck  bright  and 
early.  He  found  the  schooner  still  heading  to  the  south- 
ward, in  which  direction  she  was  accompanied  by  the 
Sarah  and  Jane.  The  crew  of  the  pirate  were  as  busy  as  a 
man-of-war's  men  would  have  been,  and  at  the  same  things 
which  commonly  occupied  the  lawful  followers  of  the  sea 
at- the  same  hour.  They  were  scrubbing  the  paint- work, 
washing  the  decks,  polishing  the  brass-work,  and  bathing 
their  bodies  in  the  cool  sea-water.  The  mate,  Arrowson, 
had  charge  of  the  work,  and  he  was  so  gruff  and  uncivil 
that  Mr.  Dewhurst  thought  best  to  go  below  again  and 
keep  out  of  the  way.  He  was  assisted  in  reaching  that 
opinion  by  one  of  the  men  dashing  a  bucket  of  water  over 
his  legs,  as  if  by  accident.  Hackett  came  up  from  the 
cabin  as  he  started,  however,  and  he  decided  to  remain,  in 
hope  of  getting  an  understanding.  Hackett  was  not 
averse  to  conversation,  but  with  all  his  apparent  freedom 
Mr.  Dewhurst  found  in  him  a  very  lawyer-like  reticence 
on  any  point  he  did  not  care  to  discuss.  To  pin  him  down 
to  any  positive  statement  about  the  time  in  which  they 
could  hope  to  be  free  was  useless.  He  slipped  away  so 
easily,  so  carelessly,  in  fact,  as  to  arouse  the  gentleman's 
choler  at  his  disrespectful  evasions.  On  one  point  he  was 
explicit  enough — no  money  would  induce  him  to  land  the 
party  anywhere  on  the  north  coast.  Mr.  Dewhurst  thought 
best  not  to  ask  any  questions  yet  about  the  amount  of  ransom 
that  would  be  required,  contiriing  his  exertions  to  getting 
some  notion  of  when  he  should  be  free,  and  the  points  con- 
nected therewith.     Ho  found   out  nothing  positive  j   and 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  273 

directly  Hackett,  taking  the  offensive,  asked  a  few  simple 
questions,  the  answers  to  which  gave  him  a  good  inferen- 
tial idea  of  the  weakh  and  social  position  of  his  prisoner. 
Where  was  his  dwelling-house?  Where  was  his  office? 
What  was  the  business  of  his  firm?  Did  he  know  such  a 
man  ?  Then  he  took  Mr.  Dewhurst's  unwilling  hand  in  his, 
and  shook  it  as  one  might  salute  a  long  absent  friend,  chuck- 
ling discordantly  while  he  shook.  "I  know  good  com- 
pany when  I  see  it,  sir.  I  am  glad  I  met  you,  I  am  now,  I 
vow,"  said  he ;  and  then  he-  coolly  walked  away  to  another 
part  of  the  vessel.  Mr.  Dewhurst  was  mightily  chagrined 
at  having  been  so  easily  outgeneralled,  and  he  growled  at 
himself  for  being  in  too  much  of  a  hurry. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


AT  breakfast  he  was  mum,  but  the  girls,  feeling  the  influ- 
ence of  Hackett's  homely,  confidence-inspiring  talk,  fell 
to  chatting.  In  the  course  of  it,  Mary  laughingly  declared 
that  she  would  not  have  missed  making  Captain  Hackett's 
acquaintance  for  anything.  He,  much  pleased,  drew  from 
her,  as  reasons  why,  that  she  thought  gallant  corsairs  had 
not  had  justice  done  them  by  the  writers.  She  went  on, 
supported  and  assisted  by  Isabel,  to  make  a  sombre  copy 
of  the  pirate  of  the  novel,  with  his  black  flag  and  his  coffin- 
like vessel,  his  inevitable  plank  to  be  walked,  and  his  love 
for  all  things  gory.  "Du  tell!"  inserted  Hackett,  who 
was  listening  very  much  interested.  Then  she  gayly  put 
in  contrast  the  comfort,  order,  and  beauty  of  all  about  La 
Hembrilla,  and  she  spoke  of  their  own  reception  and  treat- 
ment in  grateful  terms.  Hackett  insisted  that  he  knew 
good  company  when  he  saw  it,  and  was  only  sorry  he  could 
do  no  more  for  them. 

The  fact  was  that  the  two  girls  had  made  their  plans. 
Mary  had  arisen  very  early  after  her  almost  sleepless  night, 
12* 


274  LOYE   AFLOAT. 

and  in  spite  of  the  narrowness  of  the  settees  has  snuggled 
down  by  Isabel.  The  two  whispered  together  until  their 
little  plot  was  all  prej)ared.  That  was  to  unite  their  forces 
on  Hackett,  to  see  if  it  were  possible  to  wheedle  him  into  an 
early  release,  and  at  any  rate  to  find  out  his  intentions. 
They  did  not  know  of  Mr.  Dewhurst's  attempt  and  failure  ; 
and  he,  divining  that  they  had  an  object,  got  up  and  lelt 
the  table  to  give  them  free  play  at  the  captor. 

Isabel  took  immediate  advantage  to  ask  whether  "  you 
and  Uncle  John  came  to  any  understanding  ?  " 

"  Wa-a-a-1 — no  !  "  replied  Hackett.  "  Can't  say  as  we 
did." 

"  But,  captain,"  said  Mary,  "  you  told  us  last  night 
you'd  talk  it  over  with  father." 

"  Yes  'um." 

"  You  said  you  had  better  see  uncle  about  taking  us 
around  to  the  Havana,"  said  Isabel. 

"  Yes  'um." 

"  Didn't  you  speak  to  him  ?  •' 

*'  Wa-a-a-1,  yes.     We  had  some  talk  about  it." 

"  Now,  captain,  that's  too  provoking,  we  are  dying  of 
curiosity,  and  here  you  won't  tell  us  a  thing,"  exclaimed 
Mary. 

"  Don't  know  as  I've  got  any  thin'  to  tell,  ma'am.  It 
would  be  impossible  for  me  to  run  into  the  Havana,  and 
that's  what  I  said  to  your  pa." 

"  Impossible  !  Oh,  captain,  I  thought  from  all  I'd  heard 
that  you  could  go  anywhere  you  pleased." 

Hackett  answered,  rather  flattered,  "  That's  a  little  too 
strong." 

"  Now,  captain,  I  know  you  could  land  us  somewhere 
near  the  Havana  if  you  would,"  said  Mary. 

He  gave  no  answer. 

"  We  have  been  so  long  trying  to  get  there.  Just  to 
think  it  is  twenty-eight  days  since  we  left  Santa  Cruz." 

"  Sho  !  that's  too  bad,  I  do  declare." 

*'  And  we  thought  we  would  have  been  in  the  Havana 


A   STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  275 

long  ago,  and  nearly  ready  to  start  home.  We  have  been 
all  this  time  sailing  about  for  nothing,  and  we  were  so  sick 
in  that  dreadful  gale — " 

"  Ladies  hadn't  oughter  come  to  sea." 

"  Yes,  we  have  been  delayed  till  we  feel  almost  as  though 
we  should  never  see  home  any  more." 

"  Make  your  mind  easy  about  that,  anyhow." 

"  Captain,  you  really  ought  to  take  us  around  Cape  San 
Antonio.  I  declare  that  cape  is  like  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  was  to  the  first  mariners  that  tried  to  go  round  it," 
said  Mary. 

"  How  was  that,  ma'am  ?  " 

"  It  was  so  stormy,  or  else  they  were  afraid — or  some- 
thing— anyhow  they  could  never  get  around  it  ;  so  they 
called  it  the  Cape  of  Storms,  and  believed  there  was  a 
great  spirit  of  the  ocean  that  guarded  the  way  and  drove 
back  their  ships." 

"  Them  Portygees  are  poor  sailors,  anyhow.  I  ricol- 
lect— " 

"Cape  San  Antonio  has  been  our  cape  of  storms,  and 
you  have  been  the  bad  spirit,  don't  you  see,  captain  ?  " 

"But  you  must  be  a  good  spirit  now,  captain,  and  help 
us  around.  Come  now,  captain,  promise  me  to  do  that  for 
us,  won't  you,  please  ?  "  Mary  smiled  a  sweet  begging  smile 
and  Isabel  tried  to  do  the  same. 

The  keen,  hard-headed  Yankee  was  taken  on  his  weakest 
side  by  the  two  amateur  Delilahs.  He  hesitated  an  instant. 
They  saw  it  and  urged  him,  gently  but  hard.  His  uncer- 
tainty was  soon  over,  and  he  rallied.  "No,  Miss  Mary,  I 
couldn't  do  it  nohow.     I'm  sorry  to  have  to  say  no  to  y^m." 

Mary  pouted  with  an  exquisite  affectation  of  ill-humor. 
Truly  all  women  are  born  actresses.  "  Oh,  me ! "  she 
sighed  forlorn  and  pettish ;  "  I'd  like  to  know  what  will 
become  of  us  !  "  It  was  not  the  least  like  a  question,  that 
exclamation. 

"I  can  tell  you  that  I  reckon,  provided  nothin'  don't 
come  up  to  alter  things.     You'll  go  ashore  in  about  two 


276  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

days  from  now  in  a  little  harbor  I  know,  and  you'll  get 
td'able  good  quarters  in  a  house  there,  and  you  can  send  a 
man  that  knows  the  roads  over  to  Havana  or  anywhere 
your  pa  wants,  to  raise  the  money  to  pay  for  your  board 
bill  and  travellin'  expenses.  If  your  pa  has  got  friends 
over  there,  and  can  raise  the  money  quick,  you  won't  be 
very  long  gettin'  away.  You  must  excuse  me — I've  got 
to  go  on  deck." 

During  this  conversation  Mrs.  Dewhurst  had  made 
sundry  and  divers  efforts  to  catch  the  attention,  first  of 
one  girl,  then  of  the  other.  She  thought  that  it  would 
sound  very  badly  when  they  returned  home  and  she  was 
telling  the  story  of  their  capture  to  their  social  friends,  to 
be  obliged  to  relate  that  her  niece  and  her  daughter  so  far 
forgot  themselves  as  to  hold  familiar  and  fearless  converse 
with  the  leader  of  the  band.  She  imagined  the  whites  of 
Mrs.  Grundy's  eyes.  But  the  girls  took  very  good  pains 
not  to  notice  the  efforts  they  saw  her  making.  She  gave 
them  a  gentle  lecture  which  they  bore  with  an  abstracted 
good-humor. 

Hackett  told  them  no  more,  and  would  not  say  anything 
further  to  Mr.  Dewhurst.  The  first  part  of  his  statement 
proved  correct,  except  that  it  was  little  more  than  a  day 
till  they  sighted  the  land  again.  Bending  the  course  grad- 
ually to  the  west  and  then  to  the  north,  the  schooner  made 
a  great  curved  track  which  took  her  back  to  the  island, 
though  at  a  point  much  west  of  where  she  had  left  it. 
Hackett's  idea  in  running  to  the  southward  was  to  avoid 
the  risk  of  meeting  vessels  in  the  customary  highway.  He 
wished  to  take  the  brig  into  the  Hole,  and  he  knew  she  was 
too  slow  a  sailer  to  risk  her  falling  in  with  a  man-of-war. 

Nothing  beyond  the  sense  of  captivity  annoyed  the 
ladies,  except  that  they  were  forced  by  the  smallness  of  the 
vessel  and  proximity  of  the  crew  to  hear  an  occasional  oath 
or  vulgarity.  Happily  they  did  i^ot  ui:;derstaqd  much  of 
what  they  heard  in  English,  and  in  other  languages  pfo^ 
fanity  sounde4  fts  nice  to  them  ^s  apything  else.     The  two 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  277 

mates  were  the  most  troublesome  ;  for  their  conversation, 
which  they  took  no  heed  to  restrain,  penetrated  easily 
through  the  bulkhead  that  separated  the  steerage  from  the 
cabin. 

Mary  and  Mrs.  Dewhurst  had  gone  on  deck  to  get  the 
air,  and  Isabel  was  preparing  to  join  them,  when  she  heard 
the  two  ruffians  go  down  the  ladder  into  their  apartment. 
Their  talk  was  audible  by  snatches,  to  which  she  was  forced 
to  listen  for  a  minute  while  she  was  changing  her  shoes. 
"  Where's  the  bottle,  Ben  ?  "  "  Mum,  mum,  mum."  "  Down 
with  the  Dutch  ! "  "Aye."  "  Pretty  gals."  "Big  one's 
a  tearer.'*  "  Give  me  the  little  one  ! "  "  Give  me  the 
black  eyes  !  "  "  Blue's  my  color." — She  beat  a  hasty  retreat, 
uneasy  to  know  that  Arrowson  had  been  looking  at  Mary, 
and  that  she  herself  had  obtained  favor  with  Markley. 

When  the  high  land  of  Cuba  was  sighted,  the  prisoners 
were  sent  below  and  guards  stationed  over  the  hatches  to 
keep  them  there.  This  had  long  been  a  precaution  of 
Hackett's.  He  did  not  wish  to  have  the  exact  position  of 
his  refuge  generally  known,  as  it  would  have  been  had  he 
permitted  his  prisoners  to  note  the  landmarks. 

The  schooner,  still  accompanied  by  the  brig,  stood  iu 
toward  the  outer  point  of  the  Fisherman's  Key,  this  being 
the  place  at  which  it  was  customary  for  La  Hembrilla  to 
make  the  land.  A  strong  wind  was  now  blowing  from  the 
east  and  south.  Leaving  the  key  a  few  miles  to  the  right 
the  two  vessels  stood  over  toward  the  Hole. 

A  surprise  awaited  Hackett  almost  equal  to  that  he  had 
given  the  unlucky  Dodson.  When  about  four  miles  east 
of  the  Cobre  his  lookout  aloft  reported  a  sail  as  having  just 
run  out  of  the  river.  In  a  minute  more  he  hailed  that  it 
was  a  large  square-rigged  vessel  looking  like  a  man-of-war, 
then  that  she  was  standing  for  them.  Hackett  was  sure 
at  a  glance  of  what  his  glass  made  certain,  that  it  was  the 
Flying  Fish.  "  Darn  the  luck  ! "  said  he,  ''  that  darned 
sloop  is  always  getting  in  the  way  !  "  He  hauled  the 
schooner  by  the  wind,  and  started  back  for  the  brig,  which 


278  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

had  been  wallowing  along  after  him  half  a  mile  astern; 
and  he  called  Arrowson. 

"You  take  a  boat  and  go  aboard  the  brig,  Jeames,  and 
take  charge  of  her.  Work  back  along  the  shore,  and  if  he 
chases  you,  beach  her,  and  take  the  men  to  the  quarters. 
But  he  won't  trouble  you,  I  reckon." 

"  Why  not  me  as  well  as  you  ?  "  asked  Arrowson. 

"He'll  be  after  the  schooner.  He  knows  our  pris- 
oners are  aboard  here,  of  course,  and  besides  he  has  made 
up  his  mind  to  sink  the  little  gal,  Jeames.  I  guess  he 
thinks  he'll  overhaul  us  in  this  wind  and  sea." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ? "  queried  Arrowson, 
grumblingly. 

"  Run  down  to  Isla  Bella,  and  dodge  him  to-night  I'll 
be  back  to-morrow  and  he'll  go  on  around,  which  will  give 
us  time  enough.  I  want  you  to  take  the  brig  in  the 
Hole,  and  get  out  as  much  flour  as  you  can  on  the  beach — 
it'll  come  in  handy  for  the  men.  Cut  her  masts  away  and 
fetch  her  out  by  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  and 
have  her  ready  to  warp  in  the  channel  and  sink  when  I 
run  in." 

Arrowson  growled.  "The  men  aboard  can  do  all  that 
as  well  without  me  as  with  me.  I  don't  want  to  leave  the 
schooner." 

"Jeames  Arrowson,"  said  Hackett  firmly,  "let's  have 
no  words.  If  you  don't  like  goin'  first  mate  with  me,  suit 
yourself  elsewhere ;  but  while  you  stay  you've  got  to  obey 
orders."  Arrowson  yielded  sullenly,  and  turned  away 
to  prepare  the  boat.  The  brig  hove  to  for  him,  and  he 
was  soon  on  board,  engaged  in  trimming  her  on  a  wind, 
with  her  head  in  shore. 

As  soon  as  the  schooner  had  picked  up  her  boat,  she 
filled  away  and  stood  ofi"  a  little  free  to  the  southward  and 
westward,  making  more  sail  and  dashing  through  the 
roughening  sea  in  fine  style.  As  Hackett  had  predicted, 
the  sloop-of-war  stood  after  him  at  once,  neglecting  the 
brig. 


A    STOKY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  279 

It  was  a  fine  sight.  La  Hembrilla  had  a  start  of  about 
two  miles  and  -a  half,  a  distance  which  her  captain  seemed 
willing  to  preserve.  He  set  every  sail  he  dared,  and  the 
lithesome  vessel  seemed  to  feel  her  danger.  She  lay  far 
over  on  her  side,  the  green  water  occasionally  seething 
and  bubbling  up  over  her  lee-rail,  the  waves  striking  her 
weather-bow  to  be  thrown  upward  and  break  into  con- 
stantly succeeding  showers  of  diamond  spray.  The  spray 
glittered  in  the  sunlight  and  made  evanescent  little  rain- 
bows on  board.  The  long  masts  strained  under  their 
press  of  sail,  bending  like  whip-sticks,  and  the  wind  sung 
in  the  weather  shrouds  with  a  sharp  twanging  sound  which 
showed  how  tensely  they  were  stretched. 

The  breeze  increased.  The  motion  of  the  beautiful 
schooner,  lately  so  easy  when  gliding  along  free  under 
small  sail  and  in  less  wind,  now  became  a  succession  of 
violent  jerks  and  pitches.  Sometimes  she  would  dart 
ahead  like  a  bird,  and  then  her  way  would  be  suddenly 
and  entirely  checked. 

It  was  not  so  on  board  the  Flying  Fish.  Every  spar 
and  rope  had  been  put  in  its  place  with  the  expectation 
that  storms  would  test  it ;  and  for  her  the  wind  now  blow- 
ing was  only  a  capfull.  Her  greater  size  gave  her  the 
advantage  of  being  able  to  meet,  without  feeling,  waves 
that  seriously  diminished  the  schooner's  head-way  when 
they  struck  her ;  and  seas,  up  which  the  smaller  vessel  had 
laboriously  to  mount,  and  down  which  she  must  descend, 
hardly  threw  the  other  out  of  the  horizontal.  She,  too, 
carried  all  the  canvas  she  could  bear.  Dashing  onward 
swiftly,  while  she  careened  to  the  blast  with  every  bellied 
sail  firmly  full,  rigid  as  iron,  she  seemed  a  mighty  bird  of 
prey  in  relentless  pursuit  of  some  beautiful  small  fowl. 

Hackett  saw  that  he  was  losing  distance  and  felt  some 
alarm ;  but  he  continued  to  carry  on,  hoping  to  keep  ahead 
till  night,  when  he  was  sure  his  resources  would  not  fail. 
He  closely  watched  the  continued  approach  of  the  Flying 
Fish,  and  from  time  to  time  calculated  whether  he  could 


280  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

reach  Isla  Bella  before  the  sloop  would  reach  hira.  In 
three  hours  he  was  satisfied.  He  would  probably  be 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  her  battery  for  a  little  while  before 
dark  ;  but  at  such  a  distance  and  in  so  rough  a  sea,  he  was 
not  anxious.  He  resolved  to  show  his  cabin  passengers  a 
pretty  little  trick,  and  sent  for  them  to  come  on  deck. 

Mr.  Dewhurst,  followed  by  the  three  ladies,  soon  appeared, 
all  of  them  staggering,  and  clinging  to  rail  and  rigging 
in  order  to  keep  their  footing  on  t^e  steep  and  violently 
moving  deck.  They  were  glad  to  get  a  breath  of  fresh 
air,  and  were  curious  to  know  the  cause  of  the  sudden  and 
quick  movements  they  had  felt  below. 

Mr.  Dewhurst  looked  out  on  the  waste  of  waters,  and 
up  at  the  immense  spread  of  canvas ;  and  with  an  amazed 
expression,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Why,  captain,  I  thought  you 
were  going  to  land  us !  We  are  sailing  right  toward  the 
sun  I     Where  are  we  ?     What  is  the  matter  ?  " 

For  reply  Hackett  pointed  to  the  sloop,  now  only  about 
two  miles  away  and  a  little  on  the  weather  quarter.  Mr. 
Dewhurst  looked  astonished,  and  so  his  voice  sounded, 
"  The  Flying  Fish  !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  half-incredulous 
manner. 

Mrs.  Dewhurst  was  lost  in  apprehensive  wonder. 
"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  is  the  Flying  Fish,"  answered  Isabel,  in  a  tone  of 
relief  and  hope. 

But  Mary's  quick  glad  cry,  "  Oh,  the  Fish  !  the  Fish !" 
was  a  note  of  pure  joy  that  nettled  Hackett. 

"  You're  mighty  glad  to  see  her,  ain't  you  ?  "  said  he 
rather  roughly.  Of  course  he  did  not  guess  at  the  real 
reason  of  her  delight,  the  sudden  thrill  at  finding  her 
lover  near  at  such  a  time,  and  the  pride  which  flashed  into 
her  mind,  as  she  immediately  took  it  for  granted  that 
Hartley  would  straightway  rescue  them,  vi  et  armis,  from 
their  enemies'  hands. 

She  turned  to  him  frankly.  "Yes,  sir,  I  am.  You 
cant  blame  me  for  feeling  so." 


A    8T0KY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  28 1 

"  Wa-a-a-1 — no,"  admitted  Hackett,  mollified  by  her 
bright  appealing.    "  All's  fair  in  love  and  war,  I've  heard." 

It  was  a  bow  shot  at  a  venture,  but  the  arrow  struck 
the  mark.  Mary  blushed  even  there,  and  so  vividly,  or,  at 
least,  so  hotly,  that  she  felt  thankful  to  the  strong  cool 
breeze  that  excused  the  freshness  of  her  color.  "Come, 
Bell !  "  said  she,  "  let's  make  a  signal  to  that  slow  old  thing 
to  come  along."  She  stood  by  the  tafirail  and  waved  her 
handkerchief,  and  tried  to  make  Isabel  wave  hers,  to  help 
her  keep  a  good  face  on  it. 

"  My  daughter  !  "  said  Mr.  Dewhurst,  sternly,  "  Don't 
do  that." 

"  Pshaw  !  "  said  Hackett  with  a  sneer.  "  Let  her  alone. 
It  don't  do  no  hurt?' 

Mary  obediently  put  away  the  offending  handkerchief, 
but  asked  her  father  why  he  had  given  the  command. 

"  Because  I  do  not  like  to  see  you  urge  that  vessel  on," 
replied  Mr.  Dew^hurst.  "When  she  is  near  enough  she 
will  fire  at  us,  and  you  may  be  killed."  Mary  turned  pale 
at  that,  but  quickly  remembered,  and  felt  convinced  in 
her  own  mind,  that  Henry  Hartley  would  arrange  it  in 
some  manner,  so  she  would  have  no  danger  to  run. 

"  Oh,  me  !  why  did  I  ever  consent  to  come  to  sea  ?  '* 
cried  Mrs.  Dewhurst,  distressedly.  "  We  shall  all  be 
killed ! " 

"  Wa-a-a-1 — no,"  drawled  Hackett.  "  Your  pa  is  right, 
Miss  Mary  ;  but  I  guess  I  can  stow  you  ladies  under  the 
cabin  floor,  in  the  run,  if  he  opens  on  us.  You'll  be  safe 
enough  there."  He  resumed,  after  another  critical  squint 
through  the  glass,  "  I  don't  guess  you'll  get  aboard  that 
cruiser  very  soon.  Miss  Mary,  nor  you  neither.  Miss  Bell. 
I'll  just  show  you  why.  Look  here  at  the  chart.  Here's 
Isla  Bella,  and  here's  about  where  we  are  now.  About 
eight  o'clock  we'll  be  abreast  the  island.  Wa-a-a-1— I'm 
goin'  to  run  close  to  it  to  windward — there's  deep  water 
right  in  shore — and  you  see  this  little  bay  like,  hei;e,  just  a 
Boit  o'  little  cove — wa-a-a-1,  I  calc'late  w^e'll  get  nigh  it 


282  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

with  the  sloop  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  astern,  and 
what  moon  there  is  low  down  on  the  other  side,  so  we'll 
be  in  the  shade  o'  the  land.  I'll  run  to  here  " — indicating 
the  spot — "douse  everything,  and  run  in  the  cove  and 
anchor  so  close  to  the  beach,  you  could  pitch  a  biscuit 
ashore.  He'll  never  think  o'  my  comin'  to  there,  for  till 
you  get  in  a  cable's  length  o'  the  shore,  all  the  hawsers 
and  chains  he's  got  wouldn't  reach  the  bottom.  Besides, 
it's  a  lee  shore  and  a  bit  breezy  to-night.  With  the  trees 
behind  me,  he'll  just  suddenly  miss  me,  and  pass  on  by, 
and  I'll  up  killick  and  put  bacl^,-  and  land  ye,  while  he's 
still  smellin'  around  the  island." 

It  all  turned  out  as  the  astute  Hackett  predicted.  A 
little  before  dark  the  sloop  was  near  enough  to  begin  firing, 
and  her  two  bow  guns  were  served  as  fast  as  possible 
while  the  light  lasted,  though  with  no  effect.  Hackett  did 
not  fail  to  remark  that  the  bow  ports  and  rigging  of  the 
headbooms  had,  since  he  was  last  chased,  been  arranged  so 
as  to  permit  the  sloop  to  fire  directly  forward,  and  he  saw 
that  he  could  never  trust  again  to  her  losing  distance  by 
yawing  in  a  chase  to  bring  her  guns  to  bear. 

The  ladies  were  hurried  below,  a  hatch  in  the  cabin 
floor  was  taken  up,  and  they  descended  into  the  dark ;  and 
for  half  an  hour  they  crouched  low  in  the  dirty  run,  half 
stifled  by  the  smell  of  the  bilge-water,  and  trembling  with 
terror  as  they  heard  now  and  then  the  faint  sound  of  one 
of  the  guns  fired  at  them  by  pursuing  friends.  When  the 
noise  ceased  they  were  escorted  back  on  deck  by  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst,  and  there  saw  the  remainder  of  the  performance. 

They  ran  close  by  the  eastern  shore  of  a  large  island, 
whose  dense  trees  standing  high  on  the  low  hills,  at  once 
enveloped  them  in  a  shade  of  darkness.  The  chasing 
sloop,  whose  ghostly  sails  could  be  so  plainly  seen  astern, 
followed  them.  When  she  entered  the  shade,  her  lower 
sails  were  suddenly  lost  to  view,  only  her  loftier  upper 
canvas  remaining  visible.  The  schooner  ran  swiftly  along 
the  weather  shore,  against  which  the  surf  was  booming 


A   STOEY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  283 

loud  and  high.  She-reached  the  little  cove.  Suddenly 
and  silently  her  sails  disappeared,  folded  away  like  the 
wings  of  a  settling  bird.  Still  obedient  to  her  helm,  she 
ran  into  the  cove,  rounded  to,  and  dropped  her  anchor. 
The  trees  rose  up  on  the  side  of  the  moon,  a  dense  wall  of 
blackness. 

After  awhile  the  form  of  the  sloop  appeared,  still  rush- 
ing forward  under  her  lofty  canvas,  the  moonlight  shin- 
ing palely  at  intervals  on  her  topgallant  sails.  She  passed 
within  three  hundred  yards  of  them.  Mary  could  see  the 
phosphorescent  foam  under  her  bows,  and  the  lights  from 
her  after  ports.  She  heard  a  voice  give  a  command,  and 
she  thought  it  was  her  lover's  voice.  It  was  too  much  for 
her  excited  spirit  to  bear.  To  think  that  he  whom  she 
loved  was  so  near  that  she  might  hear  him  call  her  !  and 
that  he  was  unconsciously  passing  her  by !  "  Oh,  Henry  ! 
Henry  !  "  she  cried,  and  she  threw  her  arms  around  Isabel's 
neck,  weeping. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  Flying  Fish  ran  over  to  Santa  Cruz  very  leisurely, 
being  a  week  on  the  passage.  Hartley  went  on  shore 
at  the  earliest  opportunity  after  the  anchor  was  down  ; 
and,  without  waiting  to  ask  any  questions  in  the  town, 
where  he  might  have  found  out  that  Mary  was  gone,  he 
walked  out  to  the  cottage. 

An  air  of  emptiness  and  disuse  hung  over  the  place. 
The  spirit  which  presides  over  the  homes  of  men  had  ceased 
his  customary  work  when  the  cottage  was  no  longer  a 
home.  Not  only  did  the  closed  windows,  the  neglected 
flowers,  the  springing  weeds,  and  the  hollow  voice  of  the 
ghost  of  vacancy  replying  to  his  knock  at  the  door,  all 
bear  witness  and  weigh  upon  his  mind,  but  a  nameless 
something  more  was  there.    He  turned,  with  little  hope,  to 


2S4:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

the  -next  house,  to  ask  them  if  the  Dewhursts  were  not  in 
town,  but  they  told  him  at  once  that  the  family  had  sailed 
for  the  Havana  two  weeks  before. 

Then  he  felt  all  the  bitterness  of  desolation  and  deser- 
tion. It  was  a  black  half-hour  he  passed  in  sombre  think- 
ing while  he  walked  among  the  flower-beds  where  before 
Mary  had  walked  with  him,  and  sat  alone  in  the  arbor  in 
which  she  had  made  his  hours  pass  so  swiftly. 

He  went  back  to  the  town  and  found  out  all  that  he 
could  about  their  going.  A  new  fear  sprung  up  in  his 
mind,  a  dread  destined  to  weary  and  worry  him  greatly,  a 
presentiment  of  danger  to  Mary  from  the  pirates.  This 
feeling  was  not  decreased  by  the  stories  current  of  the 
exploits  of  La  Hembrilla  and  his  own  recollection  of  her 
speed  and  boldness.  He  went  to  the  ship,  burning  with 
anxiety  to  be  off  to  sea.  A  talk  with  Garnet,  who  showed 
him  the  thing  from  the  captain's  position,  convinced  him 
of  the  foolishness  of  trying  to  influence  Captain  Merritt, 
and  he  tried  to  become  reconciled  to  his  rack  and  bear  his 
pangs  quietly.  For  three  days  he  suffered  more  from 
forebodings  and  imagination  than  any  one  knew.  Garnet 
alone  guessed  it,  and  he  felt  very  sorry  for  his  friend ;  but 
he  saw  there  was  no  help  but  the  help  of  time :  and  so  he 
held  his  peace. 

The  sloop  remained  only  three  days  before  leaving 
Santa  Cruz,  but  she  was  ten  days  in  getting  back  on  the 
south  coast.  The  old  seamen  wondered  among  each  other 
why  both  Hartley  and  Garnet  seemed  so  anxious  to  make 
a  quick  passage,  why  they  did  not  permit  the  least  little 
favorable  flaw  to  be  lost,  why  they  were  so  ready  to  put 
the  ship  at  once  on  the  other  tack  when  headed  off,  why 
they  were  forever  setting  light  sails  and  trimming  and 
bracing,  and  watching  the  compass  and  the  man  at  the 
wheel.  Captain  Merritt  saw  it,  too,  and  guessed  that  the 
two  were  trying  against  each  other  their  finest  points  of 
watchful  and  patient  seamanship  in  a  match  to  see  who 
would  make  most  knots  in  such  a  length  of  time. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  285 

He  was  wrong : 

"  'Twas  love  that  made  the  yards  fly  round." 

Satisfied  that  the  lurking-hole  of  La  Hembrilla  lay 
somewhere  along  the  shore  within  "the  fifty  miles  east  of 
the  Cobre,  Captain  Merritt  began  at  that  distance  a  close 
and  systematic  search  of  the  coast,  exploring  its  navigable 
bays,  rivers,  creeks,  and  lagoons.  This  work  required  the 
employment  of  the  ship's  boats,  and  of  more  than  one-third 
of  her  crew.  While  it  progressed,  in  fact,  ever  since  leav- 
ing Santa  Cruz,  Hartley  had  been  making  calculations  as 
to  the  probable  position  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane.  He  had 
obtained  all  the  information  he  could  about  the  brig's  sail- 
ing qualities  and  her  appearance.  With  the  last  in  mind, 
he  kept  a  hopeless  lookout  for  such  a  looking  craft ;  with 
the  other  data  he  figured  up  her  probable  run  from  day  to 
day,  and  assigned  her  a  doubtful  place  on  his  imaginary 
chart.  He  was  very  miserable ;  far  more  so  than  he  was 
justified  in  being,  since  the  chance  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane's 
capture  was  only  a  chance ;  and  he  would  have  worried 
himself  still  worse  but  for  his  constant  employment. 

Garnet,  as  soon  as  he  knew  of  their  coming  employment, 
let  the  first  lieutenant  into  the  state  of  Hartley's  feelings, 
and  asked  McKizick  to  keep  his  friend  as  busy  as  possible. 
To  do  this  Captain  Merritt  had  to  be  consulted,  also'.  He 
agreed  with  Garnet,  and  for  awhile  poor  Hartley  was  kept 
on  a  keen  jump  from  one  duty  to  another.  He  would  have 
been  greatly  oflTended  had  he  known  how  the  trio  were 
conspiring  for  his  good.  It  was  rather  an  undignified 
and  juvenile  position  to  occupy — the  tool  of  others  to 
advance  his  own  interests  unconsciously,  and  at  their  un- 
known mandate. 

Every  morning  the  ship  despatched  five  boats  as  early 
as  they  could  be  got  away.  They  carried  provisions  for 
the  day's  consumption,  and  the  crews  were  armed.  Each 
boat  took  a  separate  place  to  explore,  the  first  commencing 
at  the  spot  next  to  that  last  visited,  the  others  going  fur- 
10* 


286  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

ther  along  the  coast.  The  ship  had  signals  for  recalling 
them  all,  or  any  one  of  them,  and  each  boat  had  the  means 
of  announcing  any  important  discovery  or  of  asking  for 
help.  Under  the  blazing  sun  the  crews  toiled  at  the  oars, 
and  through  thick  and  gloomy  shadows,  finding  few  signs 
of  human  life.  Now  they  searched  the  recesses  of  some 
winding  creek,  with  shores  of  black  mud  thick  with 
the  dirty  skeleton  frames  of  the  mangrove  roots  ;  now 
explored  a  wide-spread,  pestilent  lagoon  ;  now  fought 
against  the  current  of  some  bright  little  river  flowing  fresh 
from  the  mountains.  It  was  the  hardest  kind  of  physical 
labor  for  the  men,  and  the  duty  entailed  upon  the  oflScers 
a  care  and  watchfulness  still  more  harassing.  The  result 
of  several  days  of  the  work  was  just  nothing — nothing 
seen,  nothing  heard. 

Late  one  afternoon  the  ship  lay  at  anchor  before  a 
small  fishing  village.  The  boats  had  all  returned,  and  were 
hoisted  into  their  places  on  board  and  at  the  davits.  The 
captain  and  McKizick  were  standing  on  the  quarter-deck, 
talking  and  looking  at  the  western  sky.  The  sun  sunk  in 
a  bloody  splendor  behind  a  low  bank  of  clouds  whose  out- 
lines were  very  clear  cut,  and  the  color  of  which  was  a 
bright  hard  yellow.  The  afternoon  had  been  unusually 
still  and  sultry,  an  oppressive  feeling  accompanying  every 
breath. 

"  Shall  I  give  the  men  their  hammocks,  sir  ? "  asked  * 
Briggs,  who  had  the  deck.  It  was  not  customary  to  ask 
permission  to  perform  a  routine  duty  like  this ;  but  even 
young  and  inexperienced  Mr.  Briggs  could  not  help  feeling 
the  something  in  the  air,  which  made  the  old  seamen  look 
uneasy,  and  he  r-eferred  to  McKizick  as  a  matter  of  course. 
The  first  lieutenant,  for  the  same  reason,  turned  to  the  captain. 

"Not  yet,"  was  his  reply.  "I  don't  half  like  the 
looks  of  the  weather.  Send  down  the  light  yards,  Mr. 
McKizick,  and  then  see  the  boats  and  everything  about 
the  decks  are  secure  for  heavy  weather.  You'll  have  to 
work  lively — your  daylight  is  very  nearly  gone." 


A    STOKY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  287 

"Aye,  aye,  sir."  The  pipe  resounded  shrilly,  the 
boatswain  and  mates  bawled  the  word,  the  men  ran  aloft 
to  the  order,  and  in  five  minutes  the  light  yards  had  been 
swayed,  lowered,  and  lashed  on  deck.  Then  for  a  few 
minutes  the  crew  were  actively  engaged  in  passing  the 
boat  gripes  and  boom- boat  lashings,  securing  the  guns  for 
sea,  and  fastening  the  heavier  loose  articles  about  the  deck, 
which  might  become  dangerous  in  case  the  ship  should  roll 
deeply.  All  this  was  done  while  the  sky  was  clear  over- 
head and  the  water  smooth  around;  but  the  heavy  cloud- 
bank  in  the  west  continued  to  rise,  and  there  was  the  same 
sense  of  something  impending,  a  feeling  doubtless  caused 
by  the  still  oppressive  atmosphere.  When  the  work  was 
done,  the  word  was  passed,  "All  hands  stand  by  your 
hammocks  ! " 

The  men  went  quickly  and  quietly  to  their  proper 
places,  ranging  themselves  in  two  long  lines,  close  to  the 
bulworks.  The  master-at-arms  reported  to  Mr.  Briggs, 
"  All  up  from  below,  sir." 

"  Uncover,"  commanded  Briggs  ;  and  the  long  tarpau- 
lins were  quickly  thrown  back,  exposing  the  line  of  white 
hammocks.  "  Pipe  down  I "  The  hammocks  were  rap- 
idly served  out  by  the  men  in  the  nettings,  each  seaman 
going  below  to  swing  his  dreaming-bag  in  its  place,  as 
soon  as  he  got  it.     The  spar  deck  was  quickly  cleared. 

Garnet,  who  came  on  watch  at  eight,  received  a  warn- 
ing from  the  captain  to  watch  the  weather,  A  few  minutes 
before  twelve,  he  sent  Mr.  Maskelyne,  the  midshipman  of 
the  quarter-deck,  into  the  cabin  to  wake  the  captain,  and 
report  that  the  appearance  of  the  sky  was  very  threatening, 
and  that  the  barometer  had  begun  to  fall. 

Captain  Merritt  had  apparently  gone  to  bed  with  his 
clothes  on,  for  he  came  on  deck  on  the  heels  of  the  return- 
ing midshipman.  He  keenly  scrutinized  the  now  gloomy, 
cloud-covered  sky,  and  ordered  Garnet  to  call  all  hands 
up   anchor,  and   send  for  the  officers.     '*  Keep  the  ham- 


28 S  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

mock's  "below,  Mr.  Garnet ;  and  have  the  word  passed  to 
sling  all  clear  of  the  messenger." 

In  a  minute  was  heard  Mr.  Thick's  pipe,  clear  as  a  bird's 
note,  summoning  his  mates.  The  word  was  passed,  the 
deep  ominous  voices  calling  the  sleeping  crew  to  new  labor. 
By  the  time  the  drowsy  officers  were  all  on  deck,  the  men, 
little  delayed  by  toilets,  were  already  at  work.  And 
they  worked  briskly,  too,  for  they  all  knew  there  was 
reason.  The  topsails  were  close  reefed  when  they  were 
loosed,  so  that  a  short  pull  at  the  halliards  tautened  their 
leeches.  The  anchor  was  hove  up,  catted  and  fished,- onc^ 
more  severing  the  sloop's  connection  with  the  solid  earth, 
They  all  preferred  to  trust  her  entirely  to  her  own  element 
than  to  try  to  escape  harm  by  keeping  near  danger.  The 
ship  was  under  way. 

Yet  she  had  not  any  way  whatever.  Still  was  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  as  smooth  as  glass ;  still  was  the  night 
silent,  but  for  the  faint  rumbling  music  of  the  surf  and  the 
low  voices  of  men  half-whispering  as  if  in  awe  lest  the 
dark  might  hear,  as  though  their  own  tones  appalled 
them ;  still  were  the  winds  asleep.  The  starboard  watch 
was  set  and  the  other  sent  below. 

For  half  an  hour  more  the  ship  lay  motionless,  not 
even  turning  as  she  lay.  It  was  strange  to  be  there  wait- 
ing, all  in  readiness  as  if  prepared  to  fly,  and  still  have  no 
power  to  move,  to  be  able  only  to  wait,  to  wonder  in  awe, 
or  perhaps,  as  with  some,  to  feel  injured  in  having  been 
deprived  of  sleep.     But  at  last  it  came  and  ended  waiting. 

There  came  a  faint,  sustained  bass  murmur  from  the 
westward  and  off"  the  shore.  The  sound  increased  mo- 
mentarily in  strength  and  changed  constantly  in  its  pitch, 
rising  by  the  minutest  gradations  of  the  musical  scale. 
All  heard  it  and  listened.  It  was  the  wind  in  the  trees. 
Nearer  and  nearer  it  came,  swelling  in  volume,  and  be- 
coming strangely  fierce  as  its  tone  grew  higher.  To  the 
listeners  in  the  ship  it  seemed  to  advance  very  slowly. 
Louder  and  louder  it  sounded.     Some  of  those  below  heard, 


9 
A   STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  289 

and  came  to  put  their  heads  above  the  hatches  and  listen. 
The  rumble  of  the  surf  was  now  lost  in  the  mightier  noise 
of  the  coming  squall.  A  slight  cold  current  of  air  was 
suddenly  felt,  a  forerunner,  which  served  to  cast  the  ship 
with  her  head  to  the  south.  The  tempest  was  now  upon 
them  and  around  them,  its  roar  filling  all  the  air.  The 
sloop  suddenly  lay  over  upon  her  side  with  her  lower  yard- 
arms  in  the  water,  as  if  she  had  been  thrown  over  by  a 
blow  or  continued  push  from  a  solid  body,  and  her  hull 
quivered  and  groaned  as  though  it  was  expressing  the 
distress  of  a  sentient  creature  which  feared  to  be  over- 
whelmed. The  officers  and  men  remaining  on  the  spar- 
deck  clung  desperately  to  rigging,  belaying-pins,  spars,  or 
bolts — anything  which  could  give  them  support  on  the  side 
of  the  steep  deck,  and  waited,  unable  to  help  themselves 
further.  The  noise  of  the  wind  at  this  time  was  indescrib" 
ably  cruel  and  exultant ;  it  gave  the  hearer,  unavoidably, 
the  idea  of  a  savage  spirit  seeking  to  destroy  and  triumph- 
ing in  its  power.  The  rain  came*at  the  same  time,  thick, 
almost  horizontal,  and  with  stinging  velocity. 

.  For  a  moment  only  the  stout  ship  was  held  down  by 
the  blast ;  then,  as  she  gathered  way,  she  slowly,  trem- 
blingly arose.  Nothing  parted  or  carried  away,  for  all 
had  been  prepared  for  such  trying  emergencies  as  this. 
She  raced  away  to  the  southward,  twelve  knots  an  hour, 
Tinder  her  close-reefed  topsails  and  foresail. 

The  squall  blew  obstinately  for  some  time,  and,  when 
it  passed  over  at  last,  was  followed  by  angry  puffs,  that 
came  at  frequent  intervals.  These  became  longer,  and  fol- 
lowed each  other  more  speedily.  By  morning  they  had 
settled  down  into  a  heavy  gale  from  the  west,  the  same  storm 
which  caught  the  Sarah  and  Jane  off  Cape  San  Antonio. 

The  Flying  Fish  passed  through  it  with  safety  and 
comparative  ease.  There  wer^  the  usual  number  of  small 
accidents,  and  the  ordinary  amount  of  discomfort;  but 
the  whole  was  borne  with  a  rational  resignation,  and  as  j| 
trial  to  have  been  expected.  • 

13 


290  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

^  The  ship  butted  vigorously  and  persistently  into  the 
head  seas  as  long  as  the  gale  lasted.  As  each  long  hill  of 
water  came  moving  swiftly,  solidly  onward,  she  would 
charge  it  boldly.  Meeting  the  wave  there  would  be  a 
tremendous  concussion,  a  violent  bump  that  checked  her 
at  once,  making  her  thrill  and  tremble  all  over ;  and  a 
part  of  the  wave,  a  very  small  part,  would  be  arrested  and 
converted  into  spray  and  a  broad  spread  of  creamy  foam, 
while  the  rest  rolled  grandly  on.  Dularge  looked  over  the 
bows  at  the  foam,  and  afterwards  declared. over  his  dinner 
of  hard  tack  and  coffee,  that  it  resembled  a  thousand  dozen 
of  champagne  let  off  at  once — "  quarts,  you  kaow." 

Their  dinner  consisted  of  hard  bread  and  coffee,  with 
water  and  whiskey  for  those  who  wanted  other  fluids. 
They  thought  themselves  lucky  to  get  hot  coffee,  and  so 
they  were,  for  ordinary  cooking  was  impossible.  The 
coffee  was  made  only  by  patient  and  long-continued  efforts 
of  the  cook  to  keep  the  kettle  in  place,  combined  with  the 
nimble  gymnastics  necessary  to  keep  himself  in  place. 

The  rolling  and  pitching  made  all  hands  look  carefully 
to  their  footing.  The  hatches  had  to  be  kept  covered, 
because  occasionally  some  water  was  taken  over  the  bows, 
and  because  it  rained  constantly ;  and  the  result  was  that 
the  air  below  became  very  foul  and  close.  Altogetlj^r,  it 
was  highly  disagreeable ;  but,  as  usual,  all  hands  exerted 
themselves  to  be  merry,  and  cheat  the  weather. 

Garnet  came  down  from  deck  into  the  ward-room, 
during  the  afternoon,  and  found  Briggs  busy  trying  to 
write  in  the  dim  light  at  the  dining-table.  Briggs  had 
neglected  the  precaution  of  tying  his  chair-leg  fast,  and, 
getting  rather  absorbed  in  his  work,  he  forgot  to  hold  oji 
to  the  table.  As  Garnet  passed,  the  ship  rolled  deeply, 
and  Briggs  slid  away  in  his  chair  swiftly  to  leeward,  fetch- 
ing up  against  the  surgeon^  door-sill.  The  chair  tilted, 
and  shot  him  under  the  door  curtain,  into  the  state- 
room and  against  the  bed  with  considerable  force.  Dr. 
Bobus  was  lying  down  at  the  time.     "  Bless  my  soul,  sir  ! " 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMEBICAN   NAVY.  291 

he  exclaimed,  starting  up,  "what  is  the  matter?  Are 
you  ill  ?  » 

Garnet  showed  his  humorous  face  in  the  doorway, 
"  He  was  writing  to  his  dulcy,  doctor,  and,  just  as  he  was 
about  to  put  down  a  fine  thought  about  the  storm,  the  ship 
gave  a  lurch,  and  he  slid  away  and  left  it  all  on  the  table." 

"First  time  I  ever  heard  of  sliding  away  from  one's 
thought,"  replied  the  surgeon.  "  Hurry  back,  Mr.  Briggs, 
maybe  it  was  so  heavy  that  you'll  find  it  on  the  table 
yet."  ^ 

The  groaning  and  working  of  the  ship's  timbers,  the 
howling  of  the  wind,  the  tramping  of  the  crew,  and  the 
unchecked  merriment  of  the  steerage,  all  came  to  Garnet's 
ears  that  evening ;  but  through  it  all  he  thought  he  heard 
beside,  a  still  small  sound,  a  very  feeble  and  melancholy, 
yet  persistent  noise.  He  recognized  it  as  the  notes  of  a 
guitar,  baneful  instrument,  and  inevitable  bore  in  the  ser- 
vice. He  listened — could  it  be  ?  Yes — it  was — it  was 
that  sweet  old  air,  "  The  Spanish  Fandango."  "  Tumty, 
tumty,  tumty,  tum ;  tumty,  tumty,  tumty,  tumty  " — but 
not  to  anticipate  the  pleasure  of  the  persons  who  have  yet 
to  hear  this  air,  it  should  not  be  quoted  further. 

Garnet  went  to  Hartley's  state-room,  and  found  him  on 
the  bed,  firmly  braced  in  his  position,  by  putting  his  feet 
against  the  front  board.  His  back  was  against  a  dagger- 
knee  which  was  somewhat  softened  by  the  interposition  of 
a  pillow.  He  was  playing  the  Fandango,  and  looked  as  if 
he  would  go  on  playing  it  to  everlasting. 

"  Hang  up  your  fiddle,  Hal,  if  you  want  me  to  stay," 
said  Garnet. 

Hartley  laughed,  an^  put  the  guitar  away.  "  Sit  down, 
Will,  there's  some  whiskey." 

"  You're  quite  cosy.  Now  if  we  could  smoke  here,  we'd 
be  all  right." 

"Yes.  Do  you  think  the  gale  shows  any  sign  of 
breaking  ?  " 

«  Not  a  bit,"  replied  Garnet.     "  Why  ?  " 


292  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  Oh,  nothing.  I  thought  we  possibly  might  get  the 
news  from  the  Havana,  by  going  back  on  the  coast." 

*'  You  have  no  need  to  hear  from  the  Havana,"  said 
Garnet,  positively.     "  Your  Sarah  Jane's  all  right." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Well,  just  look  at  the  small  chance  of 
that  particular  vessel  being  stopped.  She  was  not  an 
inviting  prize.  I  don't  suppose  really  that  one  ship  in  fifty 
is  captured." 

'^'^  That's  so,"  answered  Hartley,  with  a  forced,  uneasy 
laugh.  "  But  then  she  might  be  the  one.  I  want  to  hear 
that  she  has  arrived.     You  don't  hyiow  anything." 

*'  Make  yourself  easy.  I  feel  it  in  my  bones,  and  by 
these  presents  do  prophesy — '^ 

"  You  have  no  great  interest  in  her  like  mine." 

"Haven't  I?"  said  Garnet.  "Oh,  yes.  Pon't  you 
remember  that  I  am  to  marry  Miss  Terrell  ?  " 

"  Sure  enough — if  you  don't  change  your  mind,  and  if 
she  does  change  hers." 

"  I  shan't  change  my  mind,  and  I'll  make  a  good  try  to 
make  her  change  hers,  next  chance  I  have." 

"  Yes,  but  when  will  that  be." 

"  Within  a  month,  sir." 

"  Good  for  you,"  replied  Hartley,  who  was  struggling 
hard  to  hide  his  worry  and  anxiety.  "  You  know  young 
Lord  Byron  says  that  *  sleep  is  awful  ! '  I'm  afraid  mine 
will  be  to-night.  My  bunk  is  wet — the  deadlight  leaks  a 
good  deal — and  the  roll  keeps  a  fellow  bobbing  about  so." 

"  Going  to  play  your  guitar  all  night  for  pastime  ? " 
asked  Garnet. 

"  Yes.  I  shall  go  into  your  room  so  as  to  have  the 
benefit  of  your  company.     I  know  you  are  fond  of  music." 

"  I'm  afraid  your  fiddle  will  ^^i  hurt,  if  you  risk  it  in 
that  rash  way." 

"  Oh,  music  will  do  you  good.  It  will  lull  you  to  sleep," 
said  Hartley. 

"  It  would  be  cruel  to  make  my  sleep  depend  on  that 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  293 

thing,"  replied  Garnet,  with  a  contemptuous  glance  at  the 
guitar  case. 

"  The  vibrations  of  the  cat's  bowels  would,  of  course, 
make  yours  yearn  sympathetically,  so  you  would  have 
cat-naps." 

" There,  Harry,"  said  Garnet  compassionately,  "that's 
enough.     Let's  try  for  a  smoke." 

They  got  their  pipes  and  started  out.  Just  then  the 
ship  gave  a  very  deep  roll,  and  a  tremendous  crash  arose 
in  the  ward-room  pantry.  The  fun  in  the  steerage  ceased 
for  an  instant,  and  then  came  an  uproarious  burst  of 
laughter. 

"  Hark  to  the  young  scamps !  "  said  Garnet  smiling. 

Hartley  laughed  with  them. 

*'  Confounded  cubs  !  "  said  the  red  and  wrathful  pay- 
master, coming  half-dressed  out  of  his  state-room.  "  How 
they  love  to  hear  our  dishes  break  !  I  told  that  steward 
to  keep  the  plates  stowed.  I'll  have  him  at  the  mast  to- 
morrow !  "  The  ship  lurched  quickly  to  windward,  and  Pay 
had  to  run  clear  across  the  ward-room  to  save  his  balance. 
Then  came  the  deeper  and  quicker  lee  lurch,  and  Pay 
darted  back  to  leeward,  and  was  lost  to  sight  in  his  own 
room,  in  a  manner  so  unexpected  to  all  as  to  excite  their 
risibilities. 

"  The  celebrated  actor.  Pay,  appears  in  the  role  of  the 
*  Injured  Caterer,'  for  one  night  only,"  said  Garnet,  as  he 
and  Hartley  went  out  of  the  ward-room. 


294:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


THE  gale  hung  on  for  several  days,  and  all  hands  were 
happy  when  it  left  them.  The  sloop  soon  regained  her 
drift,  and  returned  to  the  place  where  she  had  left  off  the 
search.  Resuming  the  explorations,  she  carried  them  on 
again  toward  the  Cohre. 

As  they  neared  that  river,  the  shore  presented  fewer 
openings,  and  the  interior  bodies  of  water  which  they  dis- 
covered were  more  easily  examined.  Consequently  .the 
boats  crept  along  the  coast  much  faster  than  at  first. 

It  so  chanced  that  Hartley  was  sent  in  charge  of  the 
first  boat  that  was  despatched  after  the  ship  had  passed  El 
Cayo  del  Pescador.  The  wind  was  southeast  and  fresh, 
so  while  the  Fish  ran  on  toward  the  river,  he  made  sail  on 
his  cutter  and  stood  in  along  the  lee  of  the  key.  Reaching 
the  main  beach  he  coasted  just  outside  the  surf,  watching 
very  sharply  for  any  break  or  opening  indicative  of  the 
mouth  of  an  interior  water.  None  rewarded  his  scrutiny, 
but  the  sail  was  sufficiently  pleasant.  The  light  cutter 
rose  and  fell  with  abandon  on  the  smooth  rollers,  and  the 
gentle  heaving  swing  was  a  delight  to  our  impressionable 
sailor.  The  shallowness  of  the  water  made  the  waves  run 
the  higher,  so  that  in  the  trough  the  sails  would  be  nearly 
becalmed,  while  on  the  crests  they  would  swell  out  plump 
and  firm.  Then,  the  cutter  would  spring  to  the  fresh 
quartering  breeze.  The  rocks  and  shoals  lay  further  out ; 
where  Hartley  had  picked  his  course  there  was  no  difficulty 
or  danger  to  meet. 

Nothing  was  found  until  they  had  passed  a  slight  pro- 
jection of  rocks,  and  commenced  coasting  along  the  grace- 
ful scimitar-like  sweep  of  sand  which  formed  the  beach  of 
a  bay.  The  coxswain  of  the  boat  thought  he  saw  a  creek 
ahead,  whereupon  Hartley,  using  his  glass,  made  out  water 
running  up  into  the  land.     Though  it  was  a  mile  away,  a 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        295 

very  few  minutes  sufficed  to  carry  them  into  the  opening. 
It  was  the  prettiest  place  Hartley  had  seen  in  all  their 
explorations. 

A  little  green  hill  rose  on  the  right,  and  on  the  left  was 
a  steep  bluff  with  a  narrow  beach  at  its  foot.  Trees  clung 
where  they  could  upon  its  face,  grasses  and  little  bushes 
grew  in  the  seams  of  the  rock  and  on  the  small  shelves. 
Even  the  vertical  faces  of  stone  were  at  this  season  covered 
with  green  mosses.  There  was  enough  of  the  rich  gray 
color  of  the  stone  visible  to  redeem  it  from  the  weakness 
of  mere  prettiness.  It  was  still  ante-meridian,  for  they  had 
started  very  early,  and  the  trees  which  grew  between  the 
cliff-foot  and  the  water,  as  well  as  those  which  leaned  out 
from  their  rocky  root-hold,  cast  on  the  face  of  the  bluff  a 
plexus  of  sunshine  and  shadows,  constantly  varying  with 
the  wind's  suggestions.  A  few  very  tall  trees  grew  on  each 
side  the  channel,  and  high  up  they  held  their  heads  amica- 
bly near  each  other,  as  though  they  meant  to  kiss,  one  day. 
On  the  right  there  were  some  clumps  of  bamboo,  that 
feathery  leaved  plant  which  is  graceful  in  all  its  forms  and 
movements,  and  beautiful  in  its  tender  color  beyond  the 
power  of  words  to  describe.  [Whoever  dies  without  seeing 
bamboo  may  have  to  go  unconsoled  to  the  discomfort  of  a 
super-tropical  country,  where  they  have  it  not.  To  come 
unexpectedly  upon  an  Indian  village  hidden  in  a  thicket 
of  bamboo  is  to  discover  an  illuminated  poem — that  is,  if* 
the  sun  be  shining.] 

The  boat  glided  into  the  lovely  channel,  but  she  w^as 
soon  becalmed,  for  it  was  wind-sheltered.  Lowering  and 
stowing  away  the  sails,  they  took  to  the  oars.  They 
rounded  the  point  at  the  head  of  the  reach,  and  the  charm- 
ing little  oval  basin  burst  upon  Hartley's  sight,  without 
any  warning.  He  directed  the  coxswain  to  steer  to  the 
head  of  the  haven,  where  he  saw  a  house.  The  boat  was 
run  straight  ashore,  her  bow|  sliding  up  on  the  slope  of 
hard  sand  ;  and  Hartley  looked  about. 

The  basin  was  apparently  without  any  means  of  egress, 


296  ^      LOVE   AFLOAT. 

for  from  his  point  de  vice  the  circumscribing  strip  of  sand 
was  an  unbroken  ellipse,  and  the  fringe  of  trees  above  it 
drooped  over  it  continuously  all  around  the  curve. 

"  Get  out  and  stretch  yourselves,  men,"  he  ordered, 
"  Don't  go  away  out  of  hail." 

"  There's  been  somebody  here  before  us,"  said  the  bow- 
man, leaping  out.     "  See  the  tracks,  Mr.  Hartley  ?  " 

u  Ye— es." 

"  There's  been  a  boat  hauled  up  here  more  nor  once't," 
remarked  another  man,  pointing  to  several  keel-marks, 
with  many  tracks  about  them. 

Hartley  examined  all  the  indications,  told  the  men  to 
look  about  sharp,  and  walked  up  to  the  house.  It  was  a 
small,  mean-looking,  weather-beaten  hut  of  pine  boards, 
with  a  window  made  of  an  ancient  port-sash.  The  front 
door  yielded  to  his  push  and  he  entered.  There  was  only 
one  room,  and  it  liad  a  floor  of  earth.  In  one  corner  lay  a 
pile  of  dirty  bedding,  and  a  very  old  grass  hammock  was 
suspended  from  the  poles  that  served  as  joists.  Vagrant 
rays  entered  by  way  of  holes  in  the  rotting  roof,  and 
brightened  the  cabin  more  than  the  subdued  light  which 
struggled  through  the  grimy  panes  of  the  one  window. 

Hartley  tried  the  back  door,  but  it  was  locked,  and  he 
did  not  feel  warranted  to  force  it  open.  Outside,  a  thick 
growth  of  high  bushes,  woven  together  closely  by  running 
briars,  came  close  up  to  the  hut  on  each  side,  and  their 
dense  entanglements  were  more  than  he  cared  to  encounter, 
without  some  definite  object  in  view. 

Just  to  the  left  of  the  house,  at  the  end  of  a  deep  gully, 
there  was  the  mouth  of  a  pretty  little  stream  of  clear  fresh 
water.  It  debouched  between  high  banks,  and,  where  it 
ran  into  the  haven,  spread  out  in  shallows,  rippling  and 
flashing  in  the  sun,  as  it  ran  over  snowy  white  sand. 

All  was  so  lovely  about  him,  that  he  forgot  his  anxie- 
ties and  delivered  himself  c^er  to  Nature,  who  after  all  had 
the  prior  claim  upon  him,  in  that  she  was  his  mistress 
before  he  had  ever  seen  Mary.     If  he  sighed  at  all  now,  it 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  297 

was  for  longing  that  Mary  might  be  with  him  to  give  to 
her  sweet  harmless  rival  the  praise  due  her  various  charms. 

[Stop,  O  reader,  and  picture  to  yourself  that  lovely  little 
lake.  It's  serenity  and  beauty  yet  fill  the  errant  traveller, 
who  chances  upon  it,  with  a  sense  of  rest  and  peace,  with 
a  feeling  that  he  has  come  far  enough.  There  is  even  now 
something  worshipful  and  sufficing  in  its  calm.  If  you 
should  be  called  a  pagan  for  yielding  yourself  in  homage 
to  Nature  there,  "you  might  say  in  deprecation  of  severity 
that  the  sin  woikld  not  be  often  repeated,  for  certainly  you 
could  not  often  find  equal  occasion.] 

Hartley  left  the  place  with  regret,  and  reached  the  ship, 
after  another  swift  sail,  at  eleven  o'clock.  He  found  her 
anchored  in  the  Cobre  in  such  a  position  that  it  was  easy, 
as  the  wind  then  blew,  to  get  under  way  and  run  out. 
This  the  captain  resolved  to  do,  after  receiving  Hartley's 
report.  His  plan  was  to  go  over  to  the*  eastward  again  for 
a  few  days,  stopping  the  search  for  the  present ;  and  to 
return  without  warning,  and  send  in  a  boat  expedition  in 
hope  of  catching  La  Hembrilla  in  the  Hole,  or  Hartley 
Haven,  as  they  called  the  newly  discovered  water.  He 
agreed  now  that  here  was  her  hiding  place. 

On  running  down  the  river,  however,  the  pirate  and  the 
brig  were  seen  coming  toward  them,  and  chase  was  given 
at  once.  Everybody  felt  sure  that  La  Hembrilla  was 
caught  at  last,  and  everybody  but  Hartley  was  in  a  high 
good  humor.  He  went  straight  to  the  captain  and  told 
him  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  Mr.  Dewhurst  and  family 
were  in  the  pirate.  He  had  recognized  the  Sarah  and  Jane 
beyond  question  by  her  correspondence  with  the  descrip- 
tion he  had  obtained  in  Santa  Cruz,  and  he  was  sure  that 
their  friends  were  now  in  the  vessel  they  were  pursuing. 
They  would  be  in  great  danger  if  the  Flying  Fish  should 
fire.  He  begged  the  captain  not  to  open  fire,  at  least  not 
until  the  sloop  was  near  enough  to  make  sure  of  sending 
her  shot  away  from  the  pirate's  cabin. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  Mr.  Hartley,"  replied  Captain  Mer- 
13* 


298  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

ritt  with  compassion,  "but  I  cannot  do  what  you  wish. 
I  do  not  know  that  Mr.  Dewhurst  and  his  family  are 
not  still  aboard  the  brig,  and  you  do  not  know  it. 
Your  idea  is  probably  correct,  but  I  do  not  know  that  it  is. 
I  will  give  orders  to  aim  at  the  sails,  but  I  must  open  fire 
as  soon  as  the  shot  will  reach.  It  is  my  duty,  and  I  would 
do  it  if  my  own  family  were  there." 

And  as  soon  as  possible,  the  bow  guns  commenced 
firing.  Hartley  watched  the  arching  flight  of  each  shot, 
with  a  terrible  anxiety,  as  long  as  there  remained  a  doubt 
of  its  striking  the  schooner.  They  were  his  own  guns 
which  were  in  the  bow  ports,  but  McKizick  had  taken  a 
notion  of  working  them,  for  once.  Until  dusk  made  the 
aim  uncertain,  he  did  not  draw  an  easy  breath.  He  wished 
for  awhile  that  the  schooner  could  go  faster,  to  get  out 
of  the  way  of  danger.  When  the  darkness  stopped  the 
firing,  he  felt  better  again,  for  he  thought  that  before  the 
moon  set,  the  Fish  would  shrely  overhaul  and  capture  the 
schooner,  and  his  beloved  one  would  be  rescued  without 
further  hazard. 

Bitter  was  his  disappointment,  and  that  of  all,  when 
La  Hembrilla  vanished.  The  pirate  was  not  missed  until 
the  sloop  was  nearly  past  the  island,  for  it  was  all  the  time 
supposed  that  she  was  but  a  little  distance  ahead,  and  that 
when  she  cleared  the  shadow,  she  would  again  become 
visible.  The  sloop  was  put  about  at  once,  and  ran  back 
abreast  the  land.  All  the  rest  of  the  night  she  blockaded 
the  coast,  with  keen  eyes  on  board  watching  vainly  for 
the  lost  prize.  The  dawn  showed  an  empty  coast,  and  a 
clear  horizon.  Thereupon  the  captain,  much  disgusted, 
shaped  his  course  back  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Cobre, 
carrying  every  stitch  of  canvas  the  ship  would  bear. 

Arriving  there  in  the  afternoon,  a  dismasted  hulk  was 
seen  lying  among  the  rocks  of  the  mouth  of  Hartley 
Haven.     The  sloop  ran  in  to  reconnoitre. 

The  hulk  lay  so  still  that  she  was  at  first  supposed  to 
be  aground.     As  they  drew  nearer,  however,  the  officers 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  299 

of  the  Fish  saw  that  there  were  men  on  board,  and  that 
she  was  secured  in  her  position  by  means  of  hawsers  car- 
ried out  to  the  surrounding  rocks.  Hartley  was  the  keen- 
est watcher  on  board  the  sloop.  It  was  he  who  reported 
to  the  captain,  that  it  was  the  hull  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane 
they  saw,  that  her  masts  had  been  cut  away,  and  that  she 
was  then  sinking,  to  his  belief,  in  order  to  shut  up  a  channel. 
:-^  The  captain  took  a  careful  look  for  himself,  and  so  far 
agreed  with  Hartley,  that  he  immediately  ordered  the  first 
lieutenant  to  go  to  quarters,  and  to  have  two  boats  manned 
and  armed  to  send  in.  He  meant  to  tow  the  brig  away 
from  the  channel  before  she  sunk,  if  it  were  possible  ;  for 
he  thought  that  it  was  enough  for  him  to  see  the  pirates' 
interest,  in  order  to  know  his  own  desirable  course. 
He  could  not  understand  why  they  had  wanted  to  stop  up 
the  channel,  but  he  was  sure  since  they  were  trying  to  do 
that,  he  would  try  to  keep  it  open. 

The  battery  began  firing  at  once,  with  the  intention  of 
driving  the  pirates  away,  and  leaving  the  men  a  clear 
deck  on  which  to  work.  Meanwhile  the  Fish  approached 
the  Sarah  and  Jane  as  rapidly  as  the  boats  could  have  done. 
The  pirates  did  not  long  remain  to  risk  the  shot ;  the  firing 
was  too  accurate  on  that  occasion.  Taking  to  their  boat 
they  pulled  ashore  as  fast  as  they  could,  vastly  annoyed 
by  the  ricochetting  •balls,  which  dashed  spray  over  them. 
They  were  only  spurred  to  exertion.  A  small  boat  bob- 
bing about  on  the  waves,  is  a  hard  thing  to  hit  with  a 
heavy  gun  in  a  moving  ship. 

When  within  half  a  mile,  and  while  still  firing,  the 
quarter-boats  of  the  ship  were  sent  in  under  Garnet's  direc- 
tion to  warp  the  brig  out  of  the  channel.  Before  they  were 
fairly  Started,  however,  a  shot  cut  the"  large  hawser  by  which 
the  bow  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane  was  held  to  the  wind.  She 
drifted  back  quickly,  the  sudden  strain  snapping  a  small 
rope  which  had  been  used  for  a  port  quarter-guy,  and 
leaving  her  hanging  by  one  hawser,  carried  forward  from 
the  starboard  quarter,  to  a  rock  off  the  bow.     She  immedi- 


300  LOVE   AFLOAT.  .  + 

ately  winded,  swung  out  of  the  channel,  and  lay  still,  with 
her  head  to  leeward.  The  boat  party  pushed  on,  never- 
theless, but  before  they  reached  her,  she  went  down. 
When  they  came  to  the  place,  they  could  row  over  her, 
and  could  see  her  by  looking  down  on  the  shady  side  of 
the  cutters.  They  returned  to  the  ship,  now  hove  to  and 
waiting,  and  found  the  battery  secured,  and  all  on  board 
quiet  again. 

"  Leave  the  cutters  down,  McKizick,"  said  the  captain, 
gleefully.  "  I  think  we  ought  to  catch  Mr.  Hackett  this 
time." 

"Plain  as  a  pike-staff,  sir.  He's  inside,  and  he  was 
blocking  up  the  channel  to  keep  us  out.  But  I'd  never 
have  thought  it  possible  to  get  his  little  craft  in  through 
those  rocks — much  less  a  ship  of  our  size." 

"Aye — but  he  ought  to  remember  the  boats,  eh, 
McKizick?" 

"  Captain,  you  must  let  me  go  in  charge  this  time.  It's 
too  important  a  business  to  pass  me  over." 

"  Yes,"  admitted  the  captain,  "  I  suppose  you  must  go. 
In  fact,  I  don't  care  to  send  any  young  man  in  here. 
You'd  better  take  Mr.  Hartley,  as  he's  been  there  before, 
and  let  him  pilot  you  in.  Take  the  launch,  and  first  and 
second  cutters,  and  go  as  soon  as  you  can  get  away.  I 
shall  not  give  you  any  instructions — but  see  here,  McKizick, 
I  trust  to  your  age  and  experience.  Don't  push  things  too 
far.     Give  up,  and  back  out  in  good  time,  if  necessary." 

,  McKizick  was  off  at  work  immediately,  getting  out 
the  launch  and  cutters.  In  a  comparatively  short  time 
the  three  were  all  ready  alongside.  Hartley  in  the  first 
cutter,  and  Briggs  in  the  second,  and  the  launch  waiting 
for  Mr.  McKizick.  That  officer  reported  to  the  captain, 
and  received  the  order  to  shove  off,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  boats  were  pulling  ashore.     It  was  about  four  o'clock. 

Hartley  went  ahead  in  the  first  cutter,  to  show  the 
way  by  which  he  had  so  easily  entered  the  Haven  before. 
He  made  first  for  the  point  of  rocks,  and  then  pulled  dowa 


A   STORY  OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  301 

the  beach  as  on  the  previous  occasion.  The  advance  was 
silent,  in  marked  contrast  to  that  on  the  day  in  which  the 
Mercutio  had  been  been  recaptured  in  such  dashing  style. 
The  only  noises  were  the  sound  of  the  surf,  and  the  oars' 
measured  dipping.  In  the  bright  afternoon  sunshine  the 
boats  glided  along  parallel  with  the  white  beach  and 
past  its  background  of  foliage,  without  a  word  spoken  or 
an  order  given  aloud.  No  sign  of  an  enemy  could  be  seen  ; 
all  was  ajpparent  solitude. 

When  near  the  entrance,  McKizick  checked  the  column 
and  gave  his  directions  briefly.  As  soon  as  they  got  fairly 
inside  the  Haven,  and  saw  the  position  of  La  Hembrilla, 
they  were  to  pull  to  her  as  fast  as  they  could  and  board ; 
afterward  to  await  his  orders.  He  cautioned  the  men  not 
to  stop  rowing  in  order  to  fire  at  anything,  and  he  directed 
the  marines  in  the  other  boats  to  wait  till  those  with  him 
opened  fire,  before  they  began.  Then  the  column  advanced 
as  before,  Hartley  still  leading. 

They  pulled  swiftly  up  the  narrow  entrance  between 
the  trees,  each  officer  looking  out  for  signs  of  a  foe  in  the 
bushes  or  on  the  bluff,  and  each  feeling  that  the  pirates 
had  every  advantage.  The  expedition  was  at  the  mercy 
of  even  a  weak  and  cowardly  force,  because  a  few  men 
could  without  risk  defend  that  narrow  water  pass  against 
a  large  body.  Perched  on  the  high  rocks  and  hidden  in 
the  bushes,  unseen  enemies  could  easily  pick  them  off  with 
safety  to  themselves.  But  the  enemy  did  not  show  him- 
self, and  as  the  boats  neared  the  point  whose  projection 
hid  the  Haven  from  sight,  all  began  to  feel  easier,  and 
to  doubt  more  strongly  that  the  schooner  was  there. 

Hartley's  boat  passed  the  rocky  promontory,  and 
wheeled  into  the  Haven.  One  glance  showed  him  La 
Hembrilla,  lying  at  the  other  end  of  the  water  with 
her  broadside  sprung  around,  a  few  men  on  her  deck 
standing  around  w^hat  he  knew  to  be  a  gun,  and  on 
the  beach  to  the  right  of  the  schooner,  a  similar 
party  about  another  piece.     He  stood  up  and  commanded 


302  LOVE  AFLOAT.^ 

fiercely,  "  Give  way,  men  !  give  way  ! "  at  the  same  time 
looking  back  at  McKizick  and  pointing  toward  the 
schooner.  At  that  instant  there  came,  altogether,  a  puff 
of  smoke,  a  bang  !  and  a  round  shot  skipping  past  his  boat. 
It  was  the  signal.  A  chorus  of  demoniac  yells,  a  rattling 
of  small-arms,  and  a  shower  of  musket  balls  succeeded, 
coming  bewilderingly  from  every  side  at  once.  Blue 
wreaths  of  powder-smoke  curled  up  on  the  cliff-top,  or 
along  its  base,  and  among  the  bushes  opposite.  Several 
of  his  men  dropped  their  oars  with  cries  of  pain,  or  sav- 
age revengeful  oaths,  or  with  the  nerveless  yielding  and 
down-sinking  of  sudden  death.  The  rest,  confused  and 
hindered  by  their  wounded  and  dead  comrades,  seemed 
panic-struck,  some  rowing,  some  backing  water,  some 
wildly  firing  their  pistols  at  the  face  of  the  bluff.  The 
discordant  yelling  was  kept  up  all  around,  and  the  bullets 
pattered  fast. 

.  Just  as  McKizick  rounded  the  point,  in  the  heavier, 
slower  laun<}h,  the  gun  was  fired  from  La  Hembrilla.  The 
shot  struck  Hartley's  cutter  so  fair  that  it  tore  out  her  bows 
at  the  water  line  and  passed  through  the  boat  from  end  to 
end,  leaving  a  ragged  hole  in  the  stern.  She  began  to  fill 
and  sink  at  once,  and  the  crew  jumped  into  the  water, 
some  holding  on  to  her  gunwale,  some  swimming  to 
meet  the  launch.  The  yells  and  cheers  of  the  pirates 
were  redoubled  at  this  mark  of  their  success,  and  they 
now  turned  all  their  attention  upon  the  heavier  boat. 
McKizick  pushed  on  toward  the  cutter,  which  was  floating 
level  with  the  surface  of  the  water.  As  he  came.  Hartley 
stood  up  in  the  stern,  ready  to  jump  on  board.  Suddenly, 
and  when  the  launch  was  close  at  hand,  he  threw  his  arms 
up,  fell  backward  in  the  water,  and  sunk. 

The  launch  in  a  shower  of  spattering  bullets  ran  along- 
side the  wrecked  cutter,  quickly  rescued  the  few  men  still 
clinging  to  her,  and,  turning  where  she  lay,  pulled  back  as 
fast  as  possible.  McKizick  had  seen  Hartley  fall,  and  knew 
it  useless  to  look  for  him.     As  the  boat  pulled  away,  another 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        303 

round  shot  came  from  the  gun  on  shore  and  shaved  off  all 
the  oars  to  starboard  close  to  the  gunwale.  The  remaining 
oars  were  quickly  divided  and  the  launch  turned  the  point, 
receiving  as  she  did  so  a  parting  salute  in  the  shape  of  a 
hurtling  stand  of  grape  from  La  Hembrilla.  Briggs  had 
winded  and  got  out  early  in  the  action,  and  his  cutter  was 
making  excellent  time  down  the  entrance,  pursued  by 
scattering  shots,  his  marines  firing  back  blindly.  When 
he  saw  the  plight  of  his  superior  he  stopped,  backed,  and 
taking  his  painter,  assisted  him  by  towing  and  by  dividing 
the  fire.  Even  in  the  pass  they  were  not  out  of  danger, 
for  the  pirates^made  up  for  allowing  a  quiet  entry  by  keep- 
ing up  their  fire  as  long  as  the  boats  were  within  range. 

When  clear  of  the  shore,  the  bullet  holes  in  the  launch 
were  plugged  in  a  more  efiicient  manner,  the  water  bailed 
out  of  her,  and* part  of  the  men  transferred  to  the  cutter. 
There  was  not  a  more  unhappy  person  iil  the  Navy  than 
McKizick,  as  he  went  back  to  the  ship  with  two  boats 
instead  of  three.  Fear  of  injury  to*  his  professional  repu- 
tati(^,  and  mortification  at  failure,  he  hardly  felt  at  all. 
He  knew  he  had  obeyed  orders  and  performed  his  duty 
intelligently ;  but  he  was  overwhelmed  with  the  sense  of 
loss  to  the  service  and  of  personal  loss  in  the  men  who  had 
died  that  day.  Even  the  joy  of  successful  combat  cannot 
pay  a  kind-hearted  man  for  his  messmates;  much  worse 
does  he  feel  to  lose  them  in  defeat. 

Meantime  Hartley  was  not  dead  by  any  means,  and  the 
mourning  for  him  was  as  useless  as  it  was  sincere.  When 
he  stood  up  in  the  cutter,  whose  gunwale  was  level  with 
the  water,  his  sudden  movement  and  her  lack  of  stability 
caused  her  to  roll.  Stepping  quickly  backward  to  regain 
his  balance.  Hartley  struck  his  heel  on  the  floating  grating 
and  fell  overboard,  instinctively  throwing  up  his  hands  to 
gave  himself.  He  fell  on  his  back  and  sunk.  Rising  im- 
mediately, but  so  near  the  cutter  he  was  not  distinguished 
from  the  seamen  who  clung  to  her  gunwale,  he  struck  out 
for  the  launch  without  waiting  for  her  to  rescue  him.     Sud- 


304  LOVE    AFLOxYT. 

denly  he  felt  his  ankle  seized  with  a  desperate  grip  :  a 
drowning  man  had  caught  him.  Realizing  the  danger  of 
being  hobbled  in  this  manner  he  struggled  to  reach  the 
cutter.  The  attempt  was  almost  successful,  when  the  man, 
with  a  convulsive,  violent  effort,  seized  him  around  the 
thighs  and  threw  his  whole  weight  upon  him  in  trying  to 
climb  up  out  of  the  water.  The  pair  went  down  together, 
Hartley  pinioned  behind,  striving  to  twist  around  and 
break  loose,  the  insensate  seaman  holding  on  with  a  vice- 
like embrace.  Hartley  thought  his  last  hour  had  come. 
His  eyes  were  closed,  but  he  could  feel  himself  sinking. 
Down — down — down  he  went,  slowly,  but  steadily.  Myri- 
ads of  thoughts  flashed  through  his  mind,  involved  like  the 
play  of  the  sparks  in  some  intricate  fire-wheel.  He  remem- 
bered home  and  his  messmates,  and  Will  Garnet,  and  Mary, 
and  sweet  life  ;  and  wondered  through  it  all  while  desper- 
ately fighting  to  free  himself  of  his  destroyer,  if  he  would 
ever  stop  going  down.  All  at  once,  he  recollected  that 
his  arms  were  at  liberty;  and  ceasing  his  vain  efforts  to 
break  the  hold  of  the  frantic  seaman,  he  gave  powerfjjj  up- 
w^ard  strokes  which  quickly  brought  him  to  the  surface. 
Oh,  sweet  delicious  breath  ! 

He  had  scarcely  time  to  breathe  twice  before  the  mad, 
relentless  seaman,  again  struggling  to  get  upon  his  body, 
forced  him  under  the  water  once  more.  This  time  be  had 
better  possession  of  his  wits,  and  quickly  arose  by  using 
his  arms.  He  came  up  by  the  boat,  placed  one  hand  on 
her  gunwale,  and  was  about  to  assist  with  the  other  his 
desperate  companion  ;  but,  as  he  reached  down,  the  sailor 
relaxed  his  hold  and  sunk.  As  usual  with  drowning  men 
he  had  killed  himself. 

Hearing  the  last  discharge  of  the  gun  from  La  Hem- 
brilla  and  the  cries  of  the  pirates  on  shore,  Hartley  remem- 
bered his  own  precarious,  exposed  position,  and  lowered 
his  head  as  deeply  in  the  water  as  he  could,  to  breathe. 
He  saw  the  pirates  running  along  the  bluffs,  gun  in  hand, 
toward  the  part   that   commanded  the  entrance,  and  it 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  305 

darted  into  his  mind  that  now  was  the  best  time  to  get 
ashore  and  hide,  while  their  attention  was  drawn  away. 
He  at  once  stri\pk  out  quietly  but  strongly  for  the  beach 
at  the  foot  of  the  cliffs,  thinking  that  his  chances  of  escape 
in  that  direction  were  better  than  to  swim  the  longer  dis- 
tance toward  the  opposite  and  lower  beach,  where  the 
pirates,  with  less  to  engage  their  attention,  would  be  more 
likely  to  see  him.  He  reached  the  shallow  water,  and, 
wading  out,  threw  himself  quickly  in  the  thick  bushes 
which  grew  on  the  slope  of  earth  between  the  sand  and  the 
cliff-foot.  As  soon  as  he  was  screened  from  view,  he 
crawled  up  the  incline  and  obtained  a  comfortable  hidden 
seat  under  the  trunk  of  a  leaning  tree,  with  a  shield  of 
weeds  in  front  of  him. 

The  voices  of  the  pirates  grew  fainter,  and  their  firing 
slacked.  After  awhile  it  ceased  entirety  and  they  began 
to  straggle  back  along  the  cliffs  in  twos  and  threes,  loudly 
triumphing  over  their  success.  He  could  hear  and  under- 
stand a  part  of  their  talk  as  they  passed  above  him,  and 
he  gathered  that  they  had  not  lost  a  man,  while  they 
^  believed  that  the  loss  of  the  Fish's  party  was  very  great. 
Once,  a  gruff  voice  gave  directions  in  English  about  post- 
ing a  lookout,  going  on  when  that  was  done  to  exult  pro- 
fanely over  the  death  of  the  officer  who  had  commanded 
the  leading  boat.  It  was  very  disagreeable  to  Hartley, 
though  in  the  mistake  of  the  last  rejoicing  he  found  one 
sweet  grain  of  comfort. 

By  and  by  the  pirates  were  all  gone,  and  the  only  noise 
he  heard  was  from  the  men  on  the  schooner.  Peering 
cautiously  from  his  concealing  blind,  he  was  surprised  to 
see  that  the  party  on  board  were  preparing  to  leave  her, 
and  that  the  gun  he  had  seen  on  the  beach  was  gone.  He 
watched  them  get  into  their  boat,  and  pull  across  the  few 
yards  of  water  between  them  and  the  shore.  They  landed, 
hauled  their  boat  up  on  the  beach,  and  walked  into  the 
old  hut.     The  door  was  closed  behind  the  last  man,  and  he 


806      '  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

saw  them  no  more,  though  he  thought  he  heard  their  voices 
again,  and  watched  closely  for  them. 

Then  there  appeared  another  gang  of  ^men,  twenty-five 
in  number,  as  near  as  he  could  count,  on  the  edge  of  the 
cliff  abreast  of  the  schooner,  and  walking  away  from  him. 
They  stopped  near  the  hut,  and  descended  by  sliding  down, 
one  by  onfe,  the  trunk  of  a  slender  tree,  which  grew  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  rocks.  They  went  along  the  beach,  some 
of  them  smoking,  reached  the  mouth  of  the  little  stream 
which  ran  between  them  and  the  hut,  and  walked,  as  they 
came  to  it,  deliberately  into  the  water  without  pausing. 
Hartley  expected  that  they  would  cross  over  to  the  hut, 
but  instead  of  that,  they  waded  straight  on  up  the  bed  of 
the  brook. 

The  last  man  stopped  in  the  water,  and  turning  where 
he  stood,  hailed  the  schooner.  The  hail  was  answered  by 
a  person  Hartley  had  not  seen  hitherto,  and  who  had 
apparently  been  left  as  a  lookout.  He  could  not  under- 
stand what  passed,  but  he  heard  the  two  laughing.  Then 
the  man  in  the  brook  walked  on  briskly  in  the  shallow 
water  to  rejoin  his  companions,  and  directly  the  last  of 
their  forms  disappeared  behind  a  bend  in  the  high  bank. 
Hartley  was  alone  and  safe  for  the  time.  He  set  himself 
to  study  the  situation,  and  make  his  plans. 

His  first  idea  was  to  get  back  to  the  Flying  Fish.  He 
thought  it  over,  and  saw  that  it  could  probably  be  done 
with  no  great  trouble,  by  exercising  prudence  and  patience. 
By  waiting  where  he  was  until  dark,  he  could  get  into  the 
water  and  swim  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  entrance,  where 
he  would  find  shelter  in  the  fringe  of  trees  along  the  beach. 
He  thought  he  could  avail  himself  of  their  concealment 
to  travel  out  on  the  point.  There  he  could  hide  till  morn- 
ing, when  the  Fish  would  be  likely  to  come  near  enough 
to  see  his  signal  for  help. 

Almost  resolved  on  this  plan,  he  remembered  Mary. 
It  needed  little  argument  to  convince  himself  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  learn  what  he  could  of  the  pirates'  strength  and 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  307 

position,  before  trying  to  regain  his  ship,  and  he  at  once 
determined  on  a  role,  which,  without  the  influence  of  the 
love  in  his  heart,  would  have  been  dismissed  with  disgust 
— the  role  of  a  spy.  He  fell  to  pondering  on  what  to  do, 
but  with  such  slight  data^  he  could  not  make  up  his  mind. 
All  he  knew  was  that  the  pirates  had  a  camp  not  far  dis- 
tant, and  he  had  seen  how  to  start  to  it,  but  here  his 
knowledge  failed.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to  remain  where 
he  was  until  dark,  not  long  distant,  and  then  to  ^ip  up 
the  brook  as  best  he  might,  trusting  to  luck  and  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  moment  to  keep  him  out  of  difliculties. 

In  the  mean  time  he  occupied  himself  by  taking  off  his 
clothing,  and  wringing  it  as  dry  as  he  could  before  putting 
it  on  again.  That  task  completed,  he  resumed  his  seat 
under  the  leaning  tree,  and  ruminated.  His  thoughts 
were  not  agreeable,  for  the  bloody  repulse  of  the  expedi- 
tion cast  him  down,  and  his  own  position  was  at  best 
uncertain,  separated  from  the  commissariat ;  but  the  chance 
of  acting  for  himself  was  pleasant,  and  the  hope,  of  seeing 
Mary,  buoyant. 

When  the  twilight  was  far  enough  advanced  to  make 
the  shadow  of  the  cliff  dark,  and  to  render  it  difficult  to 
distinguish  objects  within  it,  Hartley  left  his  snug  nook 
and  worked  his  way  cautiously  and  speedily  along  the 
slope  in  the  direction  of  the  schooner.  Her  lookout  man 
could  be  seen  pacing  up  and  down  her  deck  ;  so  whenever 
there  was  an  open  space  to  cross.  Hartley  had  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  time  during  which  the  man  was  walking  away 
from  him.  Then  he  would  run  across  the  exposed  ground, 
and  drop  again  into  concealment,  behind  some  friendly 
bush  or  tussock.  As  he  approached,  he  saw  a  light  shin- 
ing faintly  through  the  small  square  window  of  the  hut. 
His  advance  was  very  easy  until  he  came  to  'the  place 
where  he  saw  he  must  leave  the  shelter  entirely,  in  order 
to  reach  the  mouth  of  the  brook.  This  disconcerted  him, 
for  the  open  distance  was  nearly  fifty  yards,  and  a  part  of 
that  was  through  the  water,  where  wading  would  impede 


308  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

his  progress.  He  could  not  venture  to  attract  attention  by 
the  splashing  which  running  in  the  brook  would  make. 
The  schooner  was  not  more  than  forty  yards  from  the  open 
place,  and  it  was  plainly  impossible  to  traverse  the  whole 
distance  unseen.  The  ground  was  clear  and  level  up  to 
the  foot  of  the  bluff,  and  the  line  of  the  cliffs  ran  past  the 
space  in  such  a  direction,  that  the  moon  shone  on  its 
whole  face.  There  could  be  no  obscurity  and  safe  passage 
obtained  by  skirting  their  base.  His  only  means  was  to 
cross  the  open  space. 

He  had  almost  resolved  to  go  back  and  try  to  scale  the 
cliff,  to  force  his  way  along  its  edge,  and,  descending 
again,  endeavor  to  reach  the  stream  higher  up,  when  he 
observed  a  patch  of  shadow  about  half-way  between  him 
and  the  hut.  A  tree  growing  on  the  bluff  thrust  out  one 
long  arm,  on  the  end  of  which  was  the  helping  hand,  the 
tufts  of  foliage  which  threw  the  shadow. 

Hartley  watched  until  the  lookout  had  commenced  the 
part  of  his  walk  leading  forward  and  away :  then,  rising  to 
his  feet  he  ran  swiftly,  his  footsteps  making  no  sound  on 
the  yielding  sand,  to  the  patch  of  shade,  and  threw  himself 
within  it,  prone.  Breathless  and  excited  he  watched,  as 
he  lay  motionless,  for  the  lookout  to  turn  and  walk  aft, 
and  he  continued  to  watch  after  the  man  had  begun  his 
approaching  progress.  He  saw  with  relief  that  the  man 
finished  the  length  of  the  deck  without  a  pause  in  his  gait 
or  any  other  indication  of  the  surprise  which  would  attend 
discovery.  He  reached  the  taffrafl,  paused,  gazed  aim- 
lessly about  him  while  Hartley's  heart  beat  a  galop^ 
yawned  profoundly,  and  strolled  away  again  toward  the 
bows,  humming  a  soft  air.  Hartley  heeded  the  air  little 
beyond  the  assurance  it  gave  him  that  the  shadow  was 
dark  enough  to  make  his  form  indistinct,  and  that  he  was 
80  far  undiscovered ;  and  he  resolved  that,  at  the  next  turn, 
he  would  try  to  get  over  the  second  half  of  the  difficult 
course.  Unfortunately  the  resolution  was  a  little  late. 
The  musical  pirate  came  aft  humming,  sat  down  on  the 


A   STOET    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  S09 

iffrail  with  his  face  toward  the  humbled  officer,  who  tvas 
terally  crouching  in  the  dust,  deliberately  struck  a  light 
rith  flint  and  steel,  lighted  a  cigar,  and  set  himself  to 
smoke.  Hartley  watched  him  with  disgust  and  apprehen- 
sion ;  and  for  the  first  time  began  to  wish  him  at  the  devil, 
or  somewhere  else  out  of  the  way.  He  knew  that  the  moon 
was  sinking  and  that  the  shadow  would  move  rapidly 
along  the  ground,  leaving  his  Neptuneship  out  of  the  little 
pond  of  darkness,  high  and  dry  on  a  bank  of  light.  He 
tried  to  recall  how#long  a  cigar  usually  lasted,  and  to  make 
a  calculation  as  to  the  time  for  which  the  shadow  of  the 
branch  would  continue  to  cover  him ;  but  either  his  mem- 
ory failed  to  serv^  him  as  well  as  usual,  or  else  he  was  too 
much  worried  for  mental  arithnretic,  for  the  only  result  he 
could  reach  was  to  see  the  shadow  in  front  of  him  slowly 
moving  and  leaving  fresh  places  exposed  in  the  moonshine. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


AT  last,  making  a  slow  and  careful  twist  of  his  neck  to 
look,  he  found  that  one  of  his  feet  was  in  the  light. 
He  drew  it  back  very  quickly — his  aversion  to  the  lunar 
influence  was  sudden  in  one  so  free  from  superstition — and 
then  he  painfully  began  to  work  his  body  to  the  east  by 
slow  contortions.  He  laughed  in  after  days  to  remember 
that  peculiar  race  with  a  shadow,  but  it  was  no  amusement 
to  him  at  the  time.  The  shadow  was  not  any  too  large, 
and  did  not  fit  him  any  too  well  :  to  keep  just  in  it  with- 
out exposure,  and  by  very  slow  quiet  movements,  was  not 
ea.sy,  and  beside  he  had  to  watch  his  smoking  blockader. 

Suddenly  that  person  rose  and  again  commenced  his 
deliberate  stroll.  Scarcely  was  his  back  turned  before 
Hartley  was  on  his  feet,  running  as  rapidly  toward  the 
brook's  mouth  as  his  legs  would  carry  Lim.     Nearing  the 


310  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

wat^r  he  moderated  his  speed  to  avoid  making  a  splash. 
A  glance  to  the  right  showed  him  there  was  plenty  of 
time.  He  pushed  on,  however,  as  fast  as  he  could  without 
noise,  toward  the  angle  of  the  opposite  bank  of  the  brook, 
reached  it,  and  in  a  second  more  was  safe  behind  it,  out  of 
sight  from  the  Haven. 

He  was  almost  overcome  by  the  fatigues  he  had  under- 
gone, and  by  the  sudden  reflex  of  excitement  hitherto 
unfelt  and  sense  of  peril  heretofore  dominated,  and  he 
leaned  up  against  the  concave  wall  of  dfimp  earth  for  sup- 
port while  he  recovered.  As  he  stood  in  the  cool,  rapid 
water  of  the  shallow  stream,  it  suddenly  occurred  that  he 
had  undertaken  a  task  which  might  prove  too  much  for 
him.  "  If  the  start  is  life  this,  what  will  it  be  after 
awhile?"  he  asked  himself,  and  almost  wished  he  hadn't 
been  so  foolhardy  ;  and  then  he  went  on  up  the  brook. 

He  had  to  pass  behind  the  hut,  the  back  of  which  he 
had  never  seen.  Just  before  he  was  abreast  of  it  he  stopped 
and  listened.  There  was  not  any  sound  within,  nor  could 
he  see  more,  peeping  over  the  top  of  the  bank,  than  the 
light  shining  through  the  chinks.  He  advanced  again, 
keeping  his  eyes  upon  the  door,  and  planting  his  feet  suc- 
cessively in  the  water  with  care.  He  passed  the  rude  steps 
cut  in  the  bank,  and  there,  within  three  yards  of  the  door, 
could  still  hear  no  sound.  Reassured,  he  pushed  on  more 
rapidly,  though  as  quietly  as  ever. 

But  hardly  had  he  taken  a  dozen  steps  when  he  heard 
the  door  grate  on  its  hinges  and  some  one  walk  out. 
Turning,  petrified  and  without  an  expedient  left,  he  saw  in 
the  moonlight  a  negro  walking  down  the  stairs,  bareheaded. 
The  black  saw  him  at  the  same  moment,  and  called  out, 
«  Wait  fo'  me  !  " 

There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  wait.  As  the  negro 
came  up  Hartley  saw  the  uselessness  of  trying  to  avoid  a 
meeting  ;  and  reflected  like  lightning  that  he  must  kill  the 
negro  unless  he  happened  to  escape  particular  notice  by 
his  familiarity  with   the   Spanish  language.     The   negro 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  311 

came  up  by  his  side  and  at  once  exclaimed,  "  What  you 
got  you*  sword  on  now,  fo'  ?  " 

■Hartley  had  forgotten  the  sword,  but  resolving  that  the 
thing  which  had  betrayed  should  serve  him,  he  drew  it  and 
rushed  at  the  black. 

"  O  mercy,  marster  ! "  gasped  the  man,  recoiling,  and  as 
he  jumped  back  he  stumbled  and  fell.  Hartley  had  the 
blade  raised  for  a  blow,  but  the  appeal  to  mercy  made  him 
pause.  "  I  didn't  know  you,  sah  ; — I  won't  tell,  sah  !  Oh, 
Mass'  Luftenit,  don't  kill  me  !  "  pleaded  the  darkey. 

"  Get  up,  man,"  said  Hartley.  "  I  don't  want  to  hurt 
you,  but  if  you  make  any  nois#  I'll  spit  you  like  a  toad." 
The  negro  arose  shivering  and  trembling  as  if  he  had  an 
ague  fit.  "  How  did  you  know  me  ?  "  asked  Hartley,  tak- 
ing him  by  the  arm  and  holding  the  sword  ready  to  stop 
instantly  any  attempt  at  flight  or  alarm. 

"  Put  de  sword  up,  mass' !  I  swear  to  God,  I  don't 
want  to  do  nuffin  but  he'p  you  !  I'm  de  man  you  ketched 
aboa'd  de  brig  de  time  you  had  de  fight  at  P'int  Tresillo. 
You  save  my  life,  mass' :  I'se  gwine  to  he'p  you  all  I  kin, 
so  he'p  me  God." 

Hartley  recognized  the  boy,  and  was  impressed  by  his 
earnest  voice  and  manner.     He  sheathed  his  sword. 

"  Come  dis  way  quick,  mass' ;  de  watch  on  de  schoonah 
ain't  had  no  suppah,  an  his  woman  '11  be  comin  down  wid 
it  now,  fo'  long,"  said  the  negro,  motioning  up  the  stream. 
Hartley  hesitated,  dubious  about  trusting  himself  to  such 
a  guide,  and  thinking  by  the  negro's  own  tale  he  was 
going  straight  to  meet  the  woman.  "  Come  quick.  Mass' 
Luftenit ! "  urged  the  darkey.  "  Ain't  got  no  time  to 
lose,  sah  !  "  Hartley  followed  him  at  that,  keeping  very 
close  and  ready  to  punish  the  least  sign  of  treachery. 
They  went  up  the  winding  bed  of  the  brook  to  where  the 
waters  forked.  The  negro  led  him  up  the  right-h&nd 
branch  and  around  a  bend  to  a  little  beach  of  sand.  "  Now 
Mass,"  said  he,  "  set  down*  and  rest  you'self.  You  bettah 
take  you'  sword  off  an'  hide  it  in  de  brush  somewhar  about, 


312  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

and  put  you'  coat  on  de  wrong  side  out.  Dem  buttons  a 
heap  too  shiny."  Hartley  followed  the  suggestion  of  the 
sable  adviser  except  that  he  kept  his  sword  at  hand. 

The  negro  went  on,  "  I  was  jest  a-gwine  for  my  suppah. 
Ain't  you  hadnuffin  to  eat  sence  dinnah,  sah  ?" 

"  No,"  answered  Hartley,  feeling  that  the  darkey  wag 
taking  the  lead  very  soon,  but  at  the  same  gaining  con- 
fidence. 

"  Well,  mass,  I  spec'  you  bettah  le'  me  go  git  you  some 
Ruppah — got  turkle  to  night — you  mos'  dead  fo'  sumfen  to 
eat."  And  seeing  that  Hartley  was  about  to  refuse  to  let 
him  go  away,  he  earnestly  Went  on,  "  I  don'  b'long  to  dis 
gang,  nohpw.  I  b'long  to  Mass'  Robert  Johnson  down  on 
de  eas'n  sho',  and  I  wisht  I  nebber  run  off.  I'se  gwine 
back  soon's  I  kin — I  gwine  to  leab  di  s  cuttroat  gang  de  fus 
chance — I  ain't  no  pirit,  I  ain't,  I  nebber  know'd  whar  I 
was  gwine  to,  when  I  shipped  into  de  schooner  I  nebber 
wanted  to  come  nohow— I  wants  you  to  he'p  me  git  away 
I  wants  to  go  in  you'  ship — " 

"  What  made  you  run  away  from  us  when  you  were 
with  us  ?  "  interrupted  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  'lowed  you^  all  would  hang  me,  'cause  you  ketched 
me  wid  dem  pirits.     I  know'd  you  would."* 

"  What  made  you  fight  so  hard  when  we  took  the  brig?" 

"  Don'  talk  so  loud,  mass' — somebody  might  hee-eh 
you.  1  done  run  away  from  dis  gang  dat  time — try  to 
git  over  to  Matanzas  and  ship.  I  jess  come  acrost  de 
udders,  and  I  hab  to  go  wid  'em.  I  stayed  behind  in  de 
brig  a-puppus  to  gib  myself  up,  and  some  o'  dem  trifliu' 
sailors  tacted  me  wid  dere  swords.  I  hab  to  fight  den. 
Mass,  you  ain't  got  no  reason  to  be  afeard  o'  ftufiin,  I  gwine 
to  do — all  I  want  is  to  git  back  to  Mass'  Robert  Johnson's 
down  on  de  Eas'n  Sho'." 

*.*  What's  your  name  ? "  ,  . 

"  Cato,  sah — Cato  Johnson." 

"  Well,  Cato,  I  am  going  t(J  trust  you.  Where's  the 
camp  ?  " 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  313 

"  Quarters  up  de  lef  hand  fork,  sah,  'bout  two  hundred 
yards.  You  could  hee-eh  'em  talkin'  and  singin'  if  it  wasn't 
suppah  time." 

"  How  long  have  they  been  back  from  sea  ?  " 

"  Come  back  dis  mornin',  sah.  Fotch  whole  crew  an' 
ofRcers  prisoners,  and  de  passengers — ole  gemman,  ole  lady 
— tol'ble  ole,  and  two  fine  young  ladies.  I  waits  on  'em  'at 
dere  house  at  de  quarters.  One  young  lady,  I  done  tole 
her  all  'bout  mysef,  and  ax  her  to  try  to  git  Mass'  Dewhuss 
take  me  'long  when  he  ransoms.  Tole  her  'bout  de  fight 
when  I  got  cotched,  and  she  ax  me  all  'bout  you,  dat  Miss 
Is'bel." 

"  Miss  Isabel ! "  exclaimed  Hartley,  thoroughly  aroused, 
«  What  did  Miss  Mary  say  ?  " 

The  darkey  showed  his  white  teeth  in  the  moonlight, 
with  a  gleam  of  merriment,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  What  did  she  say  ?  "  demanded  Hartley. 

"  She  say  *  deah  Henry,'  sah."  Hartley  was  delighted, 
but  did  not  pursue  the  question.  "You'  name  Henry, 
sah  ?  "  asked  Cato. 

"  Yes,  you  rascal :  why  ?  " 

"Nufiin,  sah  ;  ony  I  want  to  know  how  to  call  you 
by  name,  sah.  Miss  Ma-ay  tink  a  heap  o'  you,  Mass' 
Henry."    . 

"  Well,  Cato,  I'm  glad  to  hear  it.  See  here.  I  want 
to  get  them  away  from  there  and  aboard  the  ship.  If  you 
will  help  me  1  will  give  you  a  thousand  dollars  when  they 
are  all  aboard,  and  you  shall  have  a  passage  home." 

*'  Dat  suit  me  mighty  well,  mass'.  I'se  gwing  to  do  all 
I  kin,  anyhow." 

"  I'm  nearly  starved,  Cato  :  I  want  some  of  that  turtle. 
Can  you  get  me  some  safely  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,  sah,  nobody  take  notice.  Alius  takes  my 
suppah  down  to  de  cabin  to  eat  it." 

"  Can  you  take  me  where  I  can  see  Miss  Mary  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah  ;  on'y  1  spec'  you  better  not  go  no  closter  'n 
you  is  now." 
U 


314f  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

*'  Can  you  see  Miss  Mary,  and  speak  to  her  privately 
when  you  go  up  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah." 

"  Tell  her  I  am  on  shore,  and  will  be  up  to  see  her  this 
evening  ;  and  give  her  my  love,  Cato." 

"Yes,  sah — done  got  dat,  I  spec'."  The  darkey's  teeth 
were  again  visible  for  an  instant. 

"  Never  mind,  Cato.  Kow  go  along,  and  get  back  as 
quick  as  you  can." 

"  Good-by,  Mass'  Henry.  Back  to'recly."  And  Cato 
went  rapidly  down  the  creek  bed,  his  disappearance  being 
to  Hartley  like  the  vanishing  of  a  kind  black  angel. 

Hartley  walked  up  and  down  the  dry  bank  to  keep  him- 
self warm ;  but  he  hardly  needed  the  exercise.  In  spite 
of  his  damp  clothing  and  his  hunger,  his  glowing  heart 
made  him  unmindful  of  discomfort.  The  thought  that  he 
was  so  near  Mary,  that  he  was  to  see  her  so  soon,  and  the 
unintended  message  of  love,  which  Cato  had  delivered^ 
they  fed  and  warmed  him  for  the  time.  He  tried  to  plan, 
tried  to  think,  but  his  mind  went  constantly  back  to  the 
one  delicious  involuntary  theme  of  Mary  so  near,  Mary  so 
soon.  Even  the  peril  of  his  position  did  not  present  itself; 
he  did  not  once  more  suspect  the  negro  who  now  con- 
trolled his  destiny. 

In  about  twenty  minutes  that  worthy  returned,  bring- 
ing a  tin  cup,  a  plate,  and  a  spoon,  and  a  small  bucket, 
from  which  issued  a  savory  perfume.  Hartley,  half- 
famished,  fell  upon  the  contents  of  the  bucket,  which  was 
a  thick  soup  or  chowder  made  of  turtle,  and  ate  with 
returning  strength,  while  he  listened  to  Cato. 

'*  I  went  up,"  said  Cato,  "  and  I  seen  Mr.  Dewhuss  a 
settin'  in  de  do',  and  Miss  Dewhuss  behine  him,  an  I  ax 
him  lemrae  git  in  to  git  de  broom.  Miss  Ma-ay  and  Miss 
Is'bel  bofe  in  de  inside  room  a-talkin'  wid  de  do'  open.  I 
watch  de  chance  and  tell  Miss  Ma-ay  you  heah.  She  got 
rale  white,  and  I  'lowed  she  was  gwine  to  faint  away.  I 
say  shoo  to  Miss  Is'bel,  and  I  fotch  Miss  Ma-ay  a  drink  o' 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  315 

water.  She  felt  better  den,  and  tole  Miss  Is'bel  all  about 
it,  and  she  tole  her  not  to  say  nothing  to  her  pa,  cause  you 
would  sen'  word  to  him  when  de  right  time  come.  Miss 
Ma-ay  send  you  her  love  and  say,  she's  a-comin'  to  de  big 
rock,  when  I  whistle  Ole  Yirginny.  You  like  de  turkle, 
sab?" 

"You're  a  fine  fellow,  Cato.  I'll  stand  your  friend  for 
that  turtle.  You've  done  well  so  far,  and  if  you  manage 
as  smartly  hereafter  we  shall  all  get  away  without  trouble." 

"  No,  Mass'  Henry,  you  can't  git  'em  away.  Dere's 
somebody  watching  de  house  day  an'  night.  You  bettah 
not  go  up  dere  you'sef.  Capen's  a  mighty  hard  man,  sah, 
an  dat  mate — dat  dog,  Arrowson — he  love  to  kill  you. 
Dey  all  cutt'roat  debbils,  sah — love  to  kill  folks.  You 
bettah  go  back  to  de  ship  and  fetch  all  you'  men,  and  'tact 
'em  de  way  I  show  you." 

"  Which  way." 

"  Well,  sah,  de  quarters  in  a  holly,  like.  Got  a  high 
rock  wall  on  three  sides,  an  ony  one  place  to  git  up — sort 
o'  narrer  stairs  in  de  rock.  Dis  side  ob  de  holly  nex'  to  us 
is  all  open,  sah.  You  Ian'  all  you  men  in  de  Cobre  at  de 
cove — de  creek  runs  in  on  dis  side  cross  from  de  cove — 
dere's  a  canoe  in  de  creek — you  Ian'  'em  all  dere,  and  fetch 
some  o'  dem  big  black  cannons  what  I  seen  in  you'  ship, 
an'  you  sen'  plenty  ban's  to  de  stairs  to  keep  'em  from 
runnin'  off  dat-a-way,  and  take  de  rest  an'  de  cannons,  an 
come  roun'  an'  go  up  de  creek,  an'  you  kin  ketch  all  de 
rascals  in  dere  own  trap." 

Hartley  got  Cato  to  explain  it  more  thoroughly,  and 
was  surprised  at  the  good  strategy  of  the  plan,  leaving 
out  the  negro's  ignorance  of  the  uses  of  naval  artillery, 
and  the  rough  nature  of  the  ground  for  transporting  guns 
on  ship  carriages.  He  determined  to  see  the  place  for 
himself,  and  to  try,  without  delay,  to  effect  the  escape 
of  the  whole  family. 

By  this  time  he  had  eaten  all  the  turtle  he  could,  and 
Cato  had  finished  the  remains. 


316  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  I'm  ready  to  start  now,  Cato." 

"  Yes,  sah ;  le'  me  hide  de  dishes,  Mass'  Henry,  it's  too 
resky  fo'  you  to  go  up  dere,  but  if  you  is  boun'  to  go,  I'll 
show  you  de  way.     You  must  be  pow'ful  still  and  keerful."* 

Hartley  followed  Cato  down  to  the  foot  of  the  stream, 
and  then  up  the  left-hand  branch.  Cato  whispered  to  him 
as  they  entered  it,  "  Mass'  Henry,  if  anybody  comes  down 
to  meet  us,  we  got  to  run  back  whar  we  was,  an'  if  dey 
comes  behin'  run  ahead,  an'  if  dey  comes  bofe  sides  I  lif 
you  up  on  de  bank."  He  walked  steadily  up  the  gradual 
ascent  formed  by  the  bed  of  the  stream,  diverging  on  to  dry 
ground  when  the  occasional  widening  of  the  banks  left  a 
little  strip  of  shore,  and  now  and  then  pausing  to  listen. 
As  they  advanced,  voices  and  laughter  became  audible, 
both  of  men  and  women  ;  and  after  awhile,  fitful  red  gleams 
of  light  began  to  strike  on  the  branches  high  above 
their  heads.  With  warning  hand  Cato  cautioned  Hartley 
to  silence  and  vigilance.  They  listened  intently  as  they 
pushed  on  more  slowly. 

The  sounds  grew  louder  and  the  light  flickered  more 
continuously  on  the  foliage  above.  Soon  Hartley  thought 
he  was  about  to  walk  out  undisguised  among  his  enemies, 
for  he  caught  glimpses  of  a  fire  through  the  intervening 
undergrowth.  He  could  hear  the  tinkling  of  a  guitar,  and 
understand  by  snatches  the  louder  exclamations  of  the 
pirates.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  make  Cato  stop,  that  per- 
son turned  to  the  right  into  a  shallow  gully  worn  through 
the  bank^ — up  there  much  lower  than  it  was  further  down, 
— and  pushed  up  its  narrow  pathway  between  the  closely 
approaching  vegetation  on  either  side.  In  several  places 
Hartley,  following,  had  to  get  down  on  hands  and  knees 
and  crawl  under  a  mass  of  matted  vines  which  filled  the 
upper  part  of  this  natural  covered  way. 

After  going  perhaps  twenty  paces  the  gully  became  so 
shallow  as  to  be  of  no  more  use.  Cato  dropped  on  his 
hands  and  knees,  and  began  to  bore  his  way  along  through 
the  bushes  and  vines,  closely  followed  by  the  lieuteutint, 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  317 

who  was  very  glad  to  have  a  precedent  for  his  proceeding. 
Very  soon  the  thicket  became  thinner.  Hartley  would 
haVe  arisen  to  walk  through  it,  but  Cato  motioned  him 
down  with  apprehensive  quickness.  Turning  once  more 
toward  the  light,  the  black  crawled  in  that  direction,  edg- 
ing away  to  the  left,  until  he  reached  a  large  mass  of  rock. 
Behind  this  he  stood  up,  and  after  peering  in  every  direc- 
tion and  around  its  angles  with  great  anxiety,  he  beckoned 
Hartley  to  come.  "  Mass'  Henry,"  he  whispered  in  a  thick 
frightened  voice,  "  Don'  make  no  noise  !  " 

«  All  right." 

"Look  roun'  de  cornah.     Don'  show  you'sef." 

Hartley  looked.  In  front  of  the  rock  were  bushes 
higher  than  a  man's  head,  but  growing  on  ground  so  much 
lower  than  that  on  which  he  stood  that  he  could  see  over 
their  tops.  Beyond  them  he  perceived,  by  the  ruddy  reflec- 
tion of  the  firelight  upon  its  surface,  a  stream  of  water; 
and,  looking  between  the  tree  stems  for  the  cause  of  the 
light,  he  saw  a  bright  fire  with  a  circle  of  men  and  women 
surrounding  it,  some  carelessly  stretched  out  on  the  ground, 
some  seated' on  stones,  some  swinging  in  hammocks  be- 
tween the  trees..  They  were  all  in  easy  attitudes  and  a  great 
good  humor.  A  confused  gabble  arose  from  their  mongrel 
conversation,  and  now  and  then  a  few  lilting  notes  of  a 
song  were  heard.  All  the  while  a  guitar  kept  up  an  aim- 
less tinkling  mixed  with  the  rattle  of  tinware  from  a  table 
back  of  the  fire,  where  several  hag-like  women  were  clear- 
ing away  the  supper.  Over  the  fire  there  hung  a  great 
black  iron  kettle  supported  on  a  cross-pole  resting  in  two 
forked  stakes.  The  leaves  above,  reflecting  the  blaze  of  the 
fire  in  patches  of  red  and  of  yellow  light  interspersed  with 
deep  shadows,  made  a  beautiful  though  sombre  ceiling.  A 
dull  red  coal  here  and  there  in  the  semi-darkness  revealed 
the  position  of  some  smoker.  It  was  a  wild,  strong  picture, 
framed  by  the  blackness  into  which  it  faded. 

Hartley  was  so  taken  up  by  the  first  coup-d'oeil  that  he 
did  not  see  anything  more;  but  after  awhile  he  became 


318  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

conscious  of  a  semicircle  of  white  houses,  standing  back 
from  the  fire,  and  showing  dimly  among  the  columnar  tree 
trunks  against  a  black  background.  The  line  extended 
from  his  left  around  toward  the  right,  being  lost  behind  a 
dark  mass,  which  another  look  showed  to.  be  a  house  in 
shadow,  the  last  of  the  row. 

"  Dere's  de  stairs  I  tole  you  'bout,"  said  Cato,  pointing 
to  the  right.  Hartley  gazed  in  that  direction  and  saw  a 
wall  rising  up  vertically  some  fifteen  yards  distant.  As 
his  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  darkness  he  made  out  a 
broad  black  fissure  running  up  and  down  the  wall  and 
terminating  in  the  slope  of  earth  at  its  foot.  "  Dere's 
de  cap'n's  house — Cap'n  Hackett,"  said  Cato,  pointing 
awfully  to  the  dark  building  in  front.  *'Nex' one's  whar 
Mass'  Dewhuss  and  his  fokes  is  kep'.  Nex'  one's  empty, 
and  de  nex'  b'longs  to  de  mates.  All  de  four-room  cabins 
belongs  to  de  men." 

"  Cato,"  asked  Hartley,  "  Can  Miss  Mary  find  me  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah,  de  ladies  been  hee-eh  befo'.  Dat  man  dere," 
indicating  the  locality  with  outstretched  finger — "  he's  de 
guard." 

"  Where  ?     I  can't  see  him." 

"  Settin'  down  by  dat  tree — dere.  He's  smokin'  a  cigar. 
Don't  you  see  the  light,  sah  ?  "  Hartley  made  out,  finally, 
a  man  sitting  in  the  shadow  of  a  tree  on  the  ground,  about 
fifty  yards  away. 

*'  Dat  man's  de  guard,"  whispered  Cato  again.  "  His 
business  to  see  dey  don'  run  oif.  But  he  don'  trouble  de 
young  ladies  fo'  he  knows  dat  if  they  goes  out  alone  dey 
can't  git  away.  Dey  don'  know  de  country,  an'  dey'  feard 
to  leave  Mass'  Dewhuss." 

Hartley  told  Cato  to  go  and  apprise  Mary  of  his  pres- 
ence, and  agree  upon  the  place  in  which  to  meet  him 
afterward.  The  servant,  fearful  of  suspicion  and  detection, 
made  Hartley  promise  not  to  keep  Miss  Mary  more  than 
fifteen  minutes  at  first,  and  then  to  wait  an  hour  for  a  sec- 
ond visit  from  her.     When  that  was  over  he  would  rejoin 


A   STOKY   OP   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  319 

him,  take  him  to  the  cove  in  the  Cobre  where  the  canoe  lay, 
and  put  him  back  on  board  the  ship.  Hartley  acquiesced 
in  this  plan,  though  secretly  hoping  for  an  opportunity  to 
get  the  whole  Dewhurst  family  away  with  him. 

Cato  left  him,  with  many  injunctions  to  care,  and 
crawled  away  through  the  bushes  as  he  had  come.  In  a 
few  minutes  Hartley  saw  him  reappear,  walking  with  a 
charming  innocence  toward  the  fire,  and  whistling  "  Ole 
Virginny."  It  was  the  signal.  He  again  forgot  peril, 
escape,  and  all  the  world  but  one,  and  his  heart  throbbed 
with  uncontrolled  and  tumultuous  agitation,  as  he  watched 
around  the  angle  of  the  rock  the  place  where  he  expected 
her  to  appear.  Scarcely  could  he  in  his  eagerness  keep 
from  an  undue  risking  of  himself.  "  Ah,  will  she  come  ? 
can  she  be  so  near  !  Can  she  be  coming  ?  My  love,  my  dar- 
ling !  I  shall  see  her — perhaps  she  is  coming  now  !  Why 
doesn't  she  come  ?"  So  he  thought,  his  soul  seeming  to  flow 
out  toward  her  in  an  ecstatic  current  of  affection. 

Isabel  suddenly  came  in  sight,  walking  around  the  cor- 
ner of  the  captain's  house  rapidly,  and  straight  toward 
him,  followed  by  Mary.  His  heart  stood  still.  "At  last, 
at  last,"  was  the  only  thought  that  found  space  along  with 
the  welling  gush  of  joy. 

Though  it  was  now  quite  dark,  the  fire  gave  light 
enotigh  to  show  that  Isabel  came  steadily  onward,  holding 
her  head  down  as  if  unconcerned,  while  Mary  walked  with 
a  hurried,  halting  step,  and  seemed  to  be  trying  to  look 
into  the  gloom  before  her. 

The  two  girls  reached  the  brook,  sprang  over  at  a  nar- 
row place,  and  walked  into  the  bushes  in  the  direction  of 
the  rock.  They  advanced  to  its  very  foot,  pausing  out  of 
Hartley*s  sight. 

He  had  by  this  time  somewhat  recovered  himself,  and 
was  starting  to  meet  them,  heedless  of  all  dangers.  But 
even  then,  when  he  could  no  longer  think  for  himself,  he 
thought  for  her.  Fearing  to  surprise  her  too  much  by  an 
unexpected   apparition,  he    stopped  abruptly,  and  softly 


320  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

hummed  the  first  line  of  the  air  he  had  heard  her  sing  in 
the  garden  in  Santa  Cruz. 

"  Bee  in  the  deep  flower-bell." 

He  heard  Mary's  slight  exclamation,  and  rushing  around 
the  base  of  the  rock,  sprang  down  on  the  lower  ground. 
There  in  the  darkness  he  found  her.  There  was  no  shy- 
ness or  coldness  then.  Mary  knew  she  loved  him,  heart 
and  soul ;  her  perversity  and  her  scrupulosity  were  all  gone. 
She  was  almost  as  much  overjoyed  as  he  was ;  and  when 
he  came  forward,  she  opened  her  arms  to  him,  accepting 
his  kisses  and  returning  his  embrace  in  the  most  natural 
manner  in  the  world,  with  never  a  thought  about  the  pro- 
prieties. Isabel  discreetly  turned  her  head,  too  delicate 
even  there  to  watch  their  joy,  but  she  could  not  help 
hearing  it.  At  first  their  delight  had  no  words,  but  their 
enfantillages  began  soon  enough.  She  found  herself  think- 
ing that  though  it  was  soft,  it  was  very  sweet,  the  reunion 
of  this  loving  couple. 

"  Short  their  words  and  long  their  kisses, 
And  their  hearts  were  overflowing," 

Hartley  did  not  think  of  her,  until  Mary  whispered, 
"  Speak  to  Bell,  Henry."  Then  he  turned  to  her,  and 
taking  her  hand  replied  to  her  murmur  of  welcome  by  kiss- 
ing her  cheek,  with  the  most  matter  of  fact  assurance. 
Neither  did  she  oppose  him.  As  the  parting  and  separation, 
and  the  strange  unforeseen  meeting  among  dangers  had  made 
him  and  Mary  almost  as  husband  and  wife,  so  it  had  made 
him  and  Isabel  seem  to  each  other  as  brother  and  sister. 
She  felt  a  pleasure  in  his  greeting,  and  inwardly  she  wished 
"  O  that  thou  wert  my  brother  !  "  With  all  her  coolness 
and  reserve,  she  had  a  considerable  regard  for  this  young 
man,  who  was  so  spontaneous,  so  impulsive,  so  diflferent 
from  herself.  She  felt  herself  vastly  older  than  he,  even 
then,  while  depending  on  him  to  act  for  her. 

Hartley  led  the  two  girls  around  the  rock  into  a  more 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  321 

obscured  concealment.  Isabel  posted  herself  to  keep 
watch,  while  Hartley  and  Mary  stood  so  near^her  that 
they  all  talked  together.  They  spent  a  few  minutes  in 
hurried  explanations  of  past  movements,  and  of  the  events 
which  had  thus  united  them.  While  Mary  listened  to  her 
lover's  story,  and  thought  of  his  present  situation,  she  trem- 
bled at  the  risk  he  had  run  and  had  still  to  undergo  ;  and  she 
thrilled  with  a  woman's  pride,  at  his  daring  so  much  for 
her  sake.  The  girls  told  him  how  they  had  seen  the  pirates* 
preparations  for  resistance,  and  had  heard  the  firing  and 
shouting  of  the  fight  ;  how  their  hearts  sunk  when  the 
gang  returned  triumphing ;  and  how  full  of  apprehension 
they  had  been  in  listening  to  the  loud  boastings  of  slaugh- 
ter, and  especially  in  hearing  Hackett's  cool  recital  of  the 
death  of  an  officer. 

"Oh,  Henry,"  said  Mary,  "I  thought  it  might  be  you  ; 
and  I  was  so  wretched  till  that  good  Cato  came." 

Then  Hartley  asked  about  Cato,  and  found  that  the 
Dewhurst  family  were  all,  like  himself,  looking  upon  the 
servant  as  a  friend. 

Their  time  had  already  elapsed,  and  Hartley  thought 
they  ought  to  go,  lest  a  longer  absence  might  be  remarked. 
He  told  them  so,  and  arranged  for  them  to  return  in  an 
hour.  "Now,"  said  he,  "tell  Mr.  Dewhurst  about  this — 
not  a  word  to  Mrs.  Dewhurst,  mind — and  get  his  ideas. 
If  you  can  possibly  get  out  of  this  glen,  Cato  will  guide 
us  to  a  canoe  he  told  me  about ;  and  we  may  get  out  of 
the  river  to-night,  and  be  aboard  the  Fish  to-morrow 
morning." 

"  There  are  the  stairs,"  said  Isabel,  leaving  her  post  a 
minute.  "  We  are  not  very  closely  watched.  Perhaps  we 
can  get  out  of  our  back  windows  and  escape  that  way." 

"  That  looks  possible,"  said  Hartley,  "  or  a  better  way 
may  suggest  itself.  Remind  Mr.  Dewhurst  that  in  a  pinch 
a  good  bribe  might  silence  any  one  man  who  discovered 
you.  But  are  you  and  Mary  going  to  have  courage? 
Won't  you  be  scared  ?  Can  you  stand  it "  " 
14* 


322  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Yes,"  said  both.  Isabel,  went  on,  "  Aunt  will  be  the 
trouble — she  will  be  frightened." 

"  You  may  have  to  deceive  her,"  said  Hartley.  "  At 
least,  to  make  her  think  there  is  no  danger.  When  you 
come  back  you  can  bring  me  Mr.  Dewhurst's  idea,  and  we 
w^ill  make  our  plans.     You  must  go  now." 

All  this  while  there  had  been  nothing  to  alarm  them 
from  the  gang  about  the  fire,  which  was  a  quiet  party  for 
the  evening  after  a  victory.  They  sat,  and  lounged,  and 
smoked,  and  sang,  and  once  in  awhile  a  couple  danced  a 
little  ;  but  there  was  no  drinking  and  no  boisterousness. 
The  girls  had  said  good-by,  Mary  with  a  long  and  clinging 
tenderness  as  though  it  might  be  the  last  time,  and  Isabel 
with  a  serene  cordiality  good  for  ruffled .  nerves,  and  they 
had  started  away,  when  a  noise  arose  from  about  the  fire. 
A  hoarse  rough  voice  was  heard  giving  orders,  and  there 
seemed  by  the  sounds  from  the  men  and  women  to  be  a  con- 
fusion of  some  kind.  Mary  and  Isabel  ran  back  behind  the 
rock  again,  in  fear,  and  joined  Hartley,  who  was  already 
looking  for  the  cause  of  the  disturbance. 

Near  the  fire  stood  Big  Ben,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand, 
alternately  calling  names  from  it  and  giving  directions. 
As  each  name  was  called  there  would  be  a  reply,  either 
from  a  little  group  of  men  on  the  left  and  nearer,  or  from 
some  one  among  those  still  by  the  fire.  The  party  on  the 
left  was  armed,  as  could  be  seen  by  the  glistening  of  wea- 
pons. As  others  answered  the  muster,  they  would  rise,  and 
walk  rapidly  away  toward  the  houses,  and  some  could 
already  be  seen  returning  with  their  guns.  The  women 
stayed  by  the  fire,  calling  shrilly  to  the  men  in  the  group 
and  laughing.  As  near  as  Hartley  could  make  out  there 
was  a  coarse  joke  flying  around  about  cruisers  robbing  them 
of  their  lovers  for  the  night.  Captain  Hackett  was  at  hand, 
overseeing  the  work  but  taking  no  active  part. 

Markley  stopped  his  muster  after  having  called  about 
twenty-five  names,  and  before  very  long  the  last  loiterer 
had  approached  out  of  the  ring  of  darkness  and  had  fallen 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  323 

into  the  group.  Hackett  drew  near  Big  Ben  and  gave 
some  orders  which  could  not  be  heard.  The  second  mate 
shouldered  a  musket,  and  calling,  "  Come  on,  boys  !  "  started 
down  the  glen,  followed  by  the  armed  party  strung  along 
in  two  and  threes,  and  all  silent.  They  passed  with  sure 
footsteps  into  the  undergrowth  twenty  yards  to  the  left 
of  where  Hartley  and  the  girls  were  hidden  ;  and  their 
march  could  be  followed  for  some  time  by  the  splashing 
of  their  bare  feet  in  the  water  as  they  descended  the  stream. 
When  they  were  gone  Hackett  came  down  to  his  house 
and  entered  it. 

All  of  this  had  occupied  ten  minutes  more.  The  girls 
again  said  farewell  and  essayed  to  start,  Hartley  taking  his 
place  to  watch  them,  when  they  all  three  heard  a  keen 
little  whistle  to  the  left  among  the  bushes.  The  next  min- 
ute Big  Ben  appeared,  without  his  musket,  walking  in  a 
stooping, posture  within  the  fringe  of  undergrowth  that 
bordered  the  clear  space  of  the  glen,  and  moving  in  such  a 
direction  as  to  pass  within  five  or  six  yards  of  our  party. 
He  evidently  sought  concealment  while  waiting  for  some 
one  else.  Mary  and  Isabel,  again  seeking  the  shelter  of 
the  rock,  watched  from  its  security  his  curious  movements. 
When  just  in  front  of  them,  he  stopped,  turned  toward 
the  captain's  house,  and  waited.  Directly  Arrowson 
appeared,  walking  softly  that  way.  Markley  gave  another 
low  whistle,  and  Arrowson  came  to  him  at  once.  "Well, 
he  growled. 

"  Are  they  gone  yet  ?  "  asked  Markley,  in  a  low,  excited 
voice. 

**  No ;  Tony  says  not." 

"  I'm  afraid  this  '11  make  a  row,"  said  Markley. 

"  Too  late  to  think  o'  that.  You  got  me  into  it,  and 
Tm  goin'  to  see  it  through,"  answered  Arrowson,  in  a  loud, 
reckless  manner. 

"  Ssh  !  Don't  speak  so  loud.  Cap'n's  gal  might  hear 
you !  They  might  hear  you."  Then  there  followed  further 
conversation  in  a  lower  voice,  which  was  inaudible,  an4 


324  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

finally  the  two  men  were  silent  and  stood  still,  apparently 
waiting. 

Hartley  whispered  a  question  to  Isabel,  if  she  were 
afraid  to  pass  the  mates.  She  replied  that  Hackett  had 
given  strict  orders,  and  that  no  one  ever  spoke  to  Mary 
and  her.  He  told  them,  thereupon,  to  go  quietly  in,  and 
they  started. 

He  was  somewhat  anxious  on  account  of  the  two  mates, 
but  having  inferred  from  the  talk  he  had  overheard,  that 
they  were  waiting  to  be  joined  by  others,  he  thought  best 
to  send  the  girls  away  while  the  party  of  enemies  was 
small.  Beside,  they  had  been  absent  from  their  house  a 
long  time,  and  he  feared  they  might  be  missed. 

He  watched  them  as  they  glided  through  the  bushes, 
making  a  detour  to  avoid  the  mates,  and  not  speaking  a 
word.  All  at  once  the  men  saw  them,  and  started  toward 
them  at  a  fast  walk.  The  girls  heard  the  men  approaching* 
and  began  to  run,  at  which  the  mates  suddenly  dashed  for- 
ward to  intercept  their  flight.  Markley  caught  Isabel  and 
held  her.  Arrowson  rushed  at  Mary,  but  was  not  quick 
enough,  for  she  darted  ahead  of  him,  and  his  hand  closed 
on  air,  while  she  ran  on,  as  fleet  ^s  a  doe,  toward  the  cap- 
tain's house.  Before  he  could  turn  to  pursue  her,  she  had 
sprung  over  the  brook  without  a  pause,  but  though  she 
was  now  so  far  ahead,  and  was  screaming  wildly,  he  con- 
tinued to  chase  her.  Meanwhile  Isabel  w^as  frantically 
struggling  with  Markley. 

All  of  this  passed  in  a  very  few  seconds,  event  suc- 
ceeding event,  as  if  all  had  been  arranged  beforehand. 
When  Hartley  saw  the  mates  rush  at  the  girls,  he  sprang 
forward,  with  a  generous  self-forgetful ness,  to  the  rescue. 
As  he  alighted  from  his  leap  off  the  shelf  above,  his  foot 
struck  a  loose  stone,  which  turned  and  threw  him  down. 
While  falling,  he  remembered  that  he  was  unarmed,  and 
as  he  arose,  he  snatched  up  the  stone.  Again  he  dashed 
forward,  directing  himself  toward  the  spot  where  Markley 
had   seized   Isabel.     He   came  upon  them,  and  saw  the 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY. 

reason  of  her  silence.  Markley  had  stuffed  a  part  of  her 
dress  into  her  mouth,  and  held  it  there  securely  with  one 
brawny  hand.  He  did  not  see  or  hear  Hartley's  approach. 
The  furious  young  man  swung  the  stone  at  full  arm's  length, 
with  all  his  strength,  and  brought  it  down  on  the  back  of 
the  mate's  head.  It  struck  with  a  dull  thud,  and  Markley 
relaxed  his  grasp  and  dropped  like  a  bullock.  Hartley, 
seizing  Isabel's  hand,  half  dragged,  half  carried  her  back 
to  the  rock,  where  she  sunk  to  the  ground  almOst  faint- 
ing. Leaving  her,  he  sprang  upon  the  ledge  and  looked 
around. 

Mary  was  gone.  Captain  Hackett  stood  at  the  corner 
of  his  house,  holding  Arrowson  by  the  collar,  and  cursing 
him.  The  mate  seeming  remarkably  meek  under  the  treat- 
ment. Hartley  took  in  the  situation,  and  quickly  went  to 
Isabel.  He  found  her  recovering,  and  crying  bitterly  and 
quietly,  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

"  Dear  Bell,"  said  he  tenderl}^  "  Don't  cry.  Kobody 
knows  about  it  but  me,  and  I  shall  not  tell.  I  killed  him, 
Isabel,"  he  added,  with  his  voice  suddenly  becoming  very 
stern.  Then  he  told  her  to  say  that  Markley  had  fallen  back- 
ward against  a  stone,  and  assuring  her  that  she  was  now  safe, 
urged  her  to  go  to  the  house.  She  rose  and  walked  away 
with  sufficient  readiness  to  show  that  she  needed  no  help ; 
but  Hartley  followed  her  until  she  passed  the  spot  where 
Markley  lay.  He  heard  Ben  groaning,  which  showed  that 
the  rascal  was  alive  after  all ;  and  he  hurried  back  to  his 
lookout  rock,  wondering  if  the  mate  would  suspect  how 
the  injury  had  come. 

From  the  rock  Hartley  watched  Isabel  walk  steadily 
across  the  open  ground  toward  the  captain,  who  still  held 
Arrowson,  and  poured  out  upon  him  the  vials  of  profane 
wrath. 

"You , you!     Do  you  know  what  that  is? 

You  dirty  dog  !     You !    You  know  a  pistil  when  you 

see  it,  do  you  ?    You !     I've  got  a good  notion 

to  put  a  bullet  through  your heart !     You  go  to  dis- 


326  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

obeyiii'  me,   do  you?    You  !     Iiiterferin'  with  my 

women  prisoners  !     You !  " 

Hackett  caught  sight  of  Isabel. 

"  You,  too,  Miss  Bell !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  who  was  it  ?  " 

"  Your  second  mate,"  she  answered,  in  a  firm  cold  voice, 
that  Hartley  could  plainly  hear. 

"  Where  is  the  dog  ?  "  roared  Hackett. 

"  He  is  lying  in  the  bushes.  He  got  hurt,"  answered 
Isabel. 

"  The  beast !  I  hope  he's  killed.  He's  no  mate  o'  mine 
any  more.  You  go  to  your  house.  Miss  Bell — here's  your 
pa  comin'  now.  I'll  see  you  ain't  troubled  no  more.  I 
know  good  company  when  I  see  it,"  here  Hackett  first 
noticed  the  crowd,  male  and  female,  who,  attracted  by  the 
fracas,  had  gathered  around.  "  Go  to  your  quarters  !  and 
stay  there  !  "  he  roared.  He  was  obeyed  with  surprising 
celerity.  Hackett  renewed  his  attentions  to  Arrowson  at 
this,  and  continued  his  maledictions  with  no  sign  of  ex- 
haustion. 

In  the  meantime  Markley  had  recovered,  and  apparently 
thinking  it  best  to  have  his  difficulty  out  at  once,  rose  and 
started  toward  his  commander.  Hartley  watched  him  pass 
through  the  bushes  and  heard  the  fresh  volley  of  abuse 
with  which  he  was  met  when  Hackett  espied  him  coming. 
Without  letting  go  of  Arrowson  he  rained  curses  upon 
Markley.  Suddenly  he  stopped.  "  Go  in  my  house,  the 
pair  o'  ye  !  "  he  ordered.  They  obeyed  ;  and  Hackett  fol- 
lowing closed  the  door  w^ith  a  bang.  In  a  minute  a  light 
shone  out  of  a  back  window  upon  foliage  behind  the  house, 
as  though  some  one  had  brought  a  lamp  from  an  inner  room. 
Then  all  was  quiet. 

Hartley  was  excited  by  the  events  of  the  last  few  min- 
utes to  a  point  beyond  the  recollection  of  prudence,  and  a 
sudden  curiosity  seized  him  to  know  what  w^as  going  on  in 
the  house.  He  acted  on  his  impulse.  It  was  easy  to  reach 
unperceived  the  edge  of  the  low  bushes  which  grew  nearly 
up  to  the  brook,  and  from  there  it  was  but  a  few  yarda 


A   STOKY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  327 

across  the  open  space  to  the  captain's  house.  The  light 
through  the  window  shone  on  a  mat  of  tangled  vines  and 
plants  which  grew  with  tropical  luxuriance  up  to  the  back 
of  the  house.  If  he  could  reach  that  shelter  he  might  lie 
as  near  the  window  as  he  pleased,  and  hear  all  that  went  on 
within.  He  cast  a  hasty  glance  around,  saw  that  the  coast 
was  clear,  and  springing  over  the  brook  lay  down  and 
crawled  across  to  the  corner  of  the  house.  He  found  that 
instead  of  having  vegetation  close  up  to  its  wall,  a  narrow 
space  had  been  kept  clear,  forming  a  kind  of  path  behind 
the  house.  From  where  he  lay  he  could  hear  the  talk 
within,  but  not  distinctly  enough  to  do  more  than  pique  his 
curiosity.  Besides,  in  that  place,  he  w\as  not  at  all  con- 
cealed. So  he  directed  himself  to  a  spot  a  little  further 
off  where  it  seemed  possible  to  make  an  entrance  into  the 
thicket.  Crawling  in  slowly  and  painfully,  avoiding  to 
rest  his  weight  on  a  twig,  or  rustle  a  leaf,  or  even  to  breathe 
aloud,  he  found  himself  after  awhile  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
window,  hidden  under  vines  so  closely  intertwined  that  the 
light  hardly  reached  him,  and  with  every  word  pronounced 
in  the  house  clearly  audible  to  his  ears.  He  could  see  into 
the  room  through  openings  in  the  leaves,  but  the  speakers 
were  invisible.     He  listened  acutely. 

Hackett  seemed  to  be  having  it  all  to  himself  still. 
"  And  trusted  you,  Benjamin  Markley,  in  every  way,"  he 
was  saying.  "  I  just  put  myself  in  your  hands,  I  may  say, 
and  give  you  an  officer's  shear,  expectin'  an  officer's  work 
out  o'  you  and  to  put  dependence  on  to  you  as  an  officer. 
And  how  do  you  pay  me  ?  You  drink  like  a  hog,  so  I'm 
never  easy  to  leave  you  the  schooner's  deck  at  sea ;  and 
you're  lazy  and  won't  half  do  the  work  I  set  you  ;  and  you 
pick  fights  with  weakly  men  ;  and  you  disobey  my  orders  ! 
No  !  shut  up  !  it's  not  the  first  time,  and  you  know  it,  and 
I  know'd  it  all  along.  You  run  the  schooner  off  the  course 
I  give  and  nigh  lost  her,  when  you  were  fetching  her  down 
from  York.  That's  once  before,  anyhow.  Never  mind, 
Arrowson.     I  know  you  was  not  to  blame  for  that — beyond 


328  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

not  tellin'  me  of  it.  That's  once  anyhow,  and  I  know  of 
every  other  time." 

"Do  you  think  I've  got  no  friends  among  men  I've 
done  so  much  for  ?  " 

"  I  never  took  no  notice  at  the  time,  'cause  I  hoped  for 
better  from  you.  You've  had  fair  treatment  from  me  in 
every  fashion,  and  you  know  it — and  this  is  the  way  you 
pay  me  ! — leavin'  your  command  to  look  out  for  itself, 
at  sech  a  time  as  this ! — and  me  expectin'  them  boats 
in  again,  as  like  as  not ! — and  sneakin'  off  through  the 
brush  to  attack  a  woman ! — a  girl  I  had  ordered  you  to 
keep  clear  of ! 

"  You^o  join  the  watch,  and  tend  to  your  dooty.  And 
let  me  tell  you  neow,  once  for  all,  the  very  next  time  you 
disobey  my  orders,  you'll  stop  bein'  my  second  mate,  and 
all  the  discharge  you'll  get  will  be  a  bullet  through  your 
carcass.     Go  I  " 

Hartley  heard  the  retreating  footsteps  of  Markley,  who 
departed  without  attempting  to  make  a  reply.  Hackett 
was  silent  for  a  minute  or  two  and  then  resumed : 

"  Jeames  Arrowson,  I  don't  know  what  to  say  to  you. 
It's  a  wonder  I  didn't  shoot  you  to-night.  I  was  mad 
enough.  I  have  sailed  too  long  with  you,  Jeames,  to  ex- 
pect you  to  act  like  this.  Markley's  nothin'  but  a  dog,  and 
I  never  vallied  him  much  ;  but  you  are  a  smart  man, 
Jeames.  You  know  I  am  not  to  be  fooled  with,  for  we've 
sailed  together  a  long  time  ;  and  you  know  I'm  doin'  the 
best  I  can  for  you  all  the  time,  and  dependin'  on  you  like 
my  right  hand.  And  you  know  's  well 's  I  do,  a  business 
like  ours  can't  thrive  without  hevin'  one  man  to  the  head 
and  obeyin'  of  him.  And  you  know  the  cruisers  are 
beginnin'  to  press  us  neow,  and  we've  got  to  keep  still 
awhile.  It  won't  pay  neow  to  go  after  the  girls  we  got— » 
and  these  here  women  are  big  bugs,  and  if  anythiu'  goes 
wrong  with  'em  it  '11  make  sech  a  stir  in  the  States,  they'll 
send  deown  the  hull  navy  to  break  us  out.     We've  jest  got 


A-  STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  329 

to  hold  on  and  keep  still  neow  till  the  sea  goes  down. 
Don't  you  know  it  ?  " 

Arrowson  muttered  a  gruff  assent. 

"  Wa-a-a-1,  that's  what  makes  it  so  hard  to  tell  how  to 
take  you.  Neow,  Jeames,  there's  been  s'thin',  I  do'  no 
what,  between  you  and  me  for  a  good  while,  and  I  want  to 
clear  it  up,  I  want  good  feelin'  again,  and  I  want  to  feel 
you're  backin'  me  up,  like  you  used  to." 

"I  don't  know  of  no  trouble  between  us,  cap,  hafore 
this,"  said  Arrowson.  "I  'ave  been  *uffy  may'ap,  some- 
times, but  there's  no  'ard  feelin'." 

"I'm  tarnation  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  replied 
Hackett. 

"  I  wanted  to  let  you  know  'ow  me  an  Ben  come  to  go 
hafler  them  gals.  Ben  put  me  hup  to  it  first,  telUn'  me 
that  the  big  one  was  throwin'  sheeps'  heyes  haiter  'im.  I 
laughed  at  'im,  but  I  took  notice,  and — it  was  so,  cap. 
And  the  little  one  was  a  watchin'  o'  me  in  the  same  fashion. 
We  thought  if  they  was  willin',  it  was  hall  right,  and  you 
wouldn't  care.  And  what's  more,  if  they  'ad  been  took 
separate,  there  would  'a  been  no  row.  Hof  course,  wen 
together,  they  made  a  fight  for  it." 

The  scoundrel  was  evidently  sincere  in  his  belief. 
Hartley  could  scarcely  restrain  his  anger,  and  even  Hackett 
did  not  seem  pleased. 

"  Pshaw  ! "  said  he,  "  that's  all  a  humbug." 

"  I  tell  you  it's  no  'umbug,"  retorted  Arrowson.  "  I 
don't  see  hany  reason  why  I  musn't  'ave  the  little  gal. 
She's  willin'.  I'll  pay  the  ransom  for  'er,  and  the  old 
cove'll  be  too  'appy  to  get  hisself  hoff  with  a  'ole  'ide  to 
make  hany  row." 

"  There's  no  use  talkin'  abaout  it,"  said  Hackett  decid- 
edly. "  You're  on  the  wrong  tack,  Jeames ;  she  cares 
nothin'  for  you,  and  she's  got  to  go  home.  I  know  you 
would  'a  paid  for  her  fair  and  square,  and  she  might  'a 
liked  you  well  enough  after  a  bit,  like  some  others  in  the 
quarters  neow ;  but  I  tell  you,  Jeames,  you  mustn't  think 


330  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

about  it.  How  could  you  manage  Juliette  if  you  liad  her, 
too  ?  And  you  know  it's  agin'  rules  for  any  man  to  have 
mor'n  one  woman  at  the  quarters." 

"  I  don't  want  to  keep  her  here,  and  I  would  manage 
Juliette  for  myself,"  persisted  the  mate. 

"No  use,  Jeames.  The  old  uns  'ud  make  too  much 
row." 

"  Why  not  stick  'era  ?  "  asked  Arrowson,  coolly. 

"  Jeames,  it's  no  use.  Your  idears  and  mine  are  differ- 
ent, and  you  depend  on't,  mine'U  fetch  you  out  better  in 
the  long  run." 

"  Maybe  so,"  growled  Arrowson. 

"  They  will,  depend  upon  it.  Neow,  Jeames,  I  don't 
want  no  hard  feelin's.  Let  bygones  be  bygones,  and  if 
any  of  the  men  come  pryin'  around,  wantin'  to  know 
what  was  the  matter,  jest  tell  'em  to  mind  their  own 
business." 

*'Aye,  aye.  It's  all  right,  cap,"  replied  the  mate. 
Neither  spoke  again  for  a  few  minutes,  when  Arrowson 
got  up,  and  remarked  that  he  would  go  and  turn  in. 

"Wa-a-a-1,  good-night,  Jeames,  there's  no  grudge, 
recollect." 

"  All  right,  cap,"  replied  the  mate,  moving  away. 

Hartley  observed  in  the  captain's  tone  toward  Arrow- 
son,  a  kind  of  conciliating  deceit,  and  in  the  whole  talk 
he  detected  mistrust,  in  spite  of  apparent  agreement. 
Hackett  arose  when  Arrowson  departed,  and  remained 
standing  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  When  the  mate's 
footsteps  had  died  away,  he  soliloquized. 

"  The  dog  !  he  would  like  nothin'  better  'n  to  kill  me 
in  my  bed.  It's  a  good  thing  for  me  he's  afraid  of  me — 
and  better  that  I  keep  my  eye  open  to  windward.  I  guess 
I  fooled  him  some  to-night.     Catareeny  !  "  he  called. 

"  Here  I  am,  John,"  replied  a  very  sweet  and  plaintive 
voice,  in  Spanish.     "  Do  you  wish  anything  ?  " 

Hartley  heard  the  opening  of  a  door,  as  from  an  inner 
room. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  331 

Hackett  replied  in  Spanish.  "Do  not  look  so  sad, 
Catarina,  you  are  not  the  first  woman  who  ever  bore  a 
child." 

"  I  am  not  sorrowful,  John  ;  you  love  me  too  much." 

"  Yes,  I  do  love  you,  my  little  wife ;  but  why  do  you 
look  so  sorrowful  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid,"  she  hesitatingly  replied. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid,"  he  said.  "  I  will  stay  '^ith  you,  and 
you  will  be  happy  when  you  see  your  baby — won't  you  !  " 

"  Yes,  John.     Where  are  you  going?" 

"  I  am  going  to  inspect  the  quarters ;  I  shall  be  back 
presently."     He  went  out  and  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

Hartley  stole  a  glance  at  the  window,  and  saw  before 
him,  like  a  picture,  framed  in  its  casing,  the  girl  whom 
Hackett  had  called  Catarina.  She  was  very  young,  in 
appearance  not  over  fifteen,  tall  and  slender,  and  she  had 
a  peculiarly  attractive  face.  At  his  first  glance,  the  young 
lieutenant  fell  to  pitying  her.  Her  face  was  childish  in 
every  respect  but  one.  It  was  round  and  smooth,  with 
delicate  features,  large  dark  liquid  eyes,  and  a  soft  olive 
skin,  with  color  and  peachy  bloom  on  the  cheeks.  But  in 
her  countenance  there  was  an  expression  of  deep  sadness, 
in  painful  contrast  with  its  youth  and  loveliness.  As  she 
stood  there  Hartley  saw  at  once,  her  form  confirming  what 
he  had  overheard,  that  she  would  soon  be  a  mother. 

She  remained  perfectly  still,  reflecting  pensively,  while 
the  sorrowful  look  deepened.  Presently  she  advanced  to 
the  window,  and  drawing  up  a  chair,  she  rested  her  elbows 
on  the  sill  and  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  gazed  out  fixedly. 
Hartley  heard  her  sigh  once  and  again,  and  then  she  spoke 
in  her  low  sad  Spanish. 

"  Oh,  Mother  of  God  !  Why  must  John  keep  me  here  ?  " 
She  went  on  brokenly,  frequently  pausing. 

"  Oh,  my  mother  !  where  are  you  ?  So  long  since  John 
took  me  from  you  I  Does  he  think  I  can  forget  ?  O,  my 
father !  Alas  for  me  !  Why  must  I  stay  among  these 
people  ?    He  does  not  love  me  as  I  love  him." 


332  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

She  paused  in  her  broken  monologue,  and  sung  in  a  low, 
heart-weary  tone. 

"  For  love  of  thee,  I  lost  the  love  of  God  ; 
For  love  of  thee,  I  lost  my  own,  you  see ; 
And  now  I  find  myself  alone,  alone. 

Without  a  hope  in  God,  or  love,  or  thee." 

The  words  turned  into  sobs  as  she  closed. 

*'  These  hateful  women  !  They  say  I  am  not  married  ! 
They  laugh  at  me !  Ah,  how  I  hate  them  when  they 
laugh.  Juliette  called  me  La  Hembrilla.  I  would  send 
her  far,  far  away  if  I  could — no,  I  would  go  away  with  John 
— far  away  to  my  sweet  little  mother.  Alas  for  me  !  alas 
for  me  !  how  can  I  bear  it  ?  Ay,  Madre  de  Dios  !  Madre 
deDios!" 

The  poor  girl  burst  into  a  passionate  fit  of  weeping,  and 
sobbed  as  if  her  heart  would  break,  all  the  while  uttering 
unintelligible  words.  After  awhile  she  very  suddenly 
stopped,  and  saying  to  herself  that  John  must  not  hear  her 
cry,  dried  her  tears.  She  kept  her  place  at  the  window, 
still  gazing  out  at  nothing. 

Until  now  Hartley  had  had  scarcely  time  to  think  of 
his  own  conduct.  He  had  been  pushed  by  situations  de- 
manding quick  decision,  and  all  his  spare  moments  had 
been  filled  with  his  delight  and  his  danger.  The  sensation 
of  smallness  and  meanness  which  came  over  him  now  to  find 
himself  an  eavesdropper  upon  this  girl,  who  seemed  pure 
and  pitiable,  made  him  think  of  where  he  was.  "  What 
am  I  doing  here,  in  the  night,  hidden  and  listening  ?  "  he 
asked  himself.  "  Trying  to  get  Mary  away  into  safety — 
anything  is  allowable  for  that,"  he  answered  himself. 
"  Yes,  but  would  these  fellows  make  any  allowance  if  they 
found  me?  They  would  say  I  had  no  business  here — by 
heavens  !  they  would  call  me  a  spy  !  A  spy  !  I  am  nothing 
else.  No— my  prime  object  was  to  rescue  Mary.  But  I 
did  come  to  get  information,  too ;  and  I  have  been  crawl- 
ing, and  creeping,  and   sneaking,  and  hiding,  ever  since 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  333 

dark.  Pah  !  Suppose  I  get  back  to  the  ship.  How  can  I 
tell  the  captain  and  my  messmates  ?  What  will  they  think 
of  me?" 

His  reflections  were  suddenly  brought  to  an  end  by  a 
slight  startled  exclamation  from  the  girl  at  the  window. 
At  first  he  thought  she  had  seen  him,  but  he  was  soon 
relieved  of  that  delusion  by  hearing  her  low  question  in 
broken  English,  "  Dat  you,  Jackson  ?  "  and  a  reply  from  a 
third  person  who  had  approached  unseen  and  unheard  by 
the  narrow  path  at  the  back  of  the  house. 

"  Yes  'um,"  answered  a  cautious  voice.  "  Peters  is 
with  me.  Capen's  orders  for  us  to  come.  Put  the  light  in 
the  other  room,  mum,  and  shet  the  winder  in  there." 

The  girl  obeyed  and  soon  returned.  "  You  come  so  still 
I  no  hear  you,"  she  whispered.  "  What  for  capten  want 
you?" 

"  Do'no,  'm." 

"  He  back  right  away  ?  " 

"  Yes^m.  He's  lookin'  around  to  see  that  these  devils 
ain't  hatchin'  no  mischief,  and  there  ain't  no  body  a-spyin' 
on  him." 

Hartley  shivered  at  the  word  spy.  He  began  to  feel 
uneasy  lest  Mary  and  Isabel  might  go  to  the  rendezvous 
and  find  him  absent  ;  for  the  time  that  had  elapsed  since 
he  had  parted  from  them  seemed  to  him  longer  than  it 
really  was,  because  it  had  been  filled  w^ith  incidents  of  a 
kind  to  make  time  long.  Beside,  he  was  stiff  and  sore, 
weary  of  his  constrained  position,  fatigued  beyond  anything 
he  had  ever  felt  before.  But  there  was  no  getting  away 
yet ;  he  had  no  choice  but  to  lie  still  and  to  listen. 

The  two  men  waited  without  further  word  or  motion 
until  they  heard  the  captain  returning,  when  they  moved 
up  to  the  window,  one  on  each  side.  Hackett  entered  the 
house,  shut  the  door  carefully,  walked  to  the  middle  of  the 
room,  and  asked  in  a  commonplace  tone.  "  Ten  o'clock, 
Catareeny?"  **  Eleven,"  replied  the  man  she  had  called 
Jackson.    It  was  a  signal  apparently,  for  Hackett,  without 


334:  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

farther  hesitation  went  to  the  window  and  sat  down. 
"  Who's  with  you  ?  "  he  asked.  One  man  replied,  "  Jack- 
sou,"  the  other,  "  Peters."  "  Right.  Anybody  see  you 
sence  you  got  back."     "  No — " 

"  That's  good.  Come  close,  men,  and  listen  sharp. 
The  mates  have  no  idea  that  you  are  my  partners  instead 
of  them.  I  fooled  Arrowson  bad  to-night — made  him  think 
I  was  tarnation  anxious  to  be  friends  with  him  again. 
He's  an  ugly  devil,  though,  and  he'll  stab  me  in  the  back 
or  shoot  me  unawares  before  long  unless  I  clear  out.  And 
he  don't  love  you  neither. 

"  Wa-a-1,  men,  I'm  ready  to  quit.  Come  here,  Catareeny, 
I  want  you  to  hear  every  word  o'  this.  I'm  goin'  to  take 
Catareeny  and  leave  this — pshaw,  gal !  there — let  go  ! 
Arrowson's  welcome  to  the  gang  if  he  wants  it,  but  he 
shan't  have  the  schooner,  and  he  shan't — have — you  know 
what.  Counting  what's  buried,  and  what's  in  the  bank  in 
Orleans,  there  be  a  cool  fifty  thousand  a  piece  for  you  two. 
And  you've  earned  it,  too — I  should  never  have  got  along 
with  these  devils  without  your  keepin'  me  so  well  posted. 

"  Wa-a-a-1,  let's  get  to  business.  No  time  to  lose  now. 
Take  the  short  road  to  the  P'int  and  travel  fast.  Go  to 
the  right,  and  strike  the  beach  at  the  open — 'bout  half-way 
— you  know.  Look  out  you  don't  go  past  the  dry  creek  in 
the  dark.  The  canoe's  in  the  old  place.  The  spades  and 
paddles  are  hid  altogether  in  the  grass,  behind  the  big  log. 
You'll  find  'em  easy  enough — they  ain't  two  foot  from  the 
log.  There  won't  be  a  mite  o'  surf  to-night."  Hartley 
had  heard  every  word  of  the  low  monotonous  talk.  It  was 
getting  interesting.  The  captain  went  on  almost  in  a 
whisper,  but  still  audibly.  "  Dig  it  up,  and  take  box  and 
all.  Now  mind.  There's  two  sharp-p'inted  rocks  lays 
close  in  shore  on  the  east  side  o'  the  key — sb  close  in  you 
can  see  'em  by  the  starlight.  When  you  find  them,  strike 
back  toward  the  middle  o'  the  key,  and  you'll  come  not 
fifty  yards  from  the  beach  to  three  mounds.  The  north 
one  is  the  biggest,  and  it  rises  to  a  peak,  like,  and  it  hain't 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  335 

no  grass  on  it.  Put  the  box  under  again,  on  the  very  tip- 
top of  it— three  foot's  deep  enough— and  slick  it  up,  and 
git  away.  Put  the  paddles  and  spades  and  the  boat,  all 
jest  as  you  found  'em.  You  can  get  that  done  by  day,  if 
you  push,  and  you'd  better  lose  no  time.  The  cruiser's  off 
the  coast ;  look  out  she  don't  see  you.  When  you  get 
done,  go  over  to  Olozaga,  as  I  told  you,  and  tend  to  that 
business  with  the  priest.  Then  come  back  and  let  me 
know." 

The  man  named  Peters  here  spoke  up  in  a  dissatisfied 
manner.  "  How  will  we  be  better  off  when  we  shift  the 
box  than  we  are  now,  cap  ?  There'll  be  no  better  chance 
to  get  it  away  then  than  we've  already  got." 

"  Wa-a-a-1,  Peters,  I  have  been  a  mind  to  let  you  and 
Jackson  in  my  plans  for  a  good  spell,  and  neow  I  calc'late 
I  better.  In  the  first  place,  our  lives  ain't  safe  here,  as  you 
know.  The  gang  don't  look  up  to  me  like  it  used  to. 
Arrowson  has  tampered  with  the  men — and  the  women 
too,  for  that  matter — till  I  caa't  count  certain  on  over 
twelve  or  fourteen,  besides  you  two.  Some  day  the  treach- 
erous hounds  will  knock  us  all  in  the  head,  for  the  sake  of 
dividin*  amongst  fewer,  and  so  as  to  live  freer  'n  I  let  'em. 
I  ain't  a  goin'  to  wait  for  that  time.  I  reckon  some  night 
before  very  long,  little  Catareeny  there  will  slip  down  the 
creek,  and  find  the  schooner's  anchor  up  and  sail  made ; 
and  we'll  jest  go  off  together  to  Orleans,  and  sell  the  boat, 
and  draw  out  the  money  in  bank,  and  divide  up." 

"  But  how  about  the  box,  cap  ?  "  insisted  Peters. 

"  You  don't  give  me  time  to  get  to  that.  When  we 
get  rid  of  the  men  that  go  with  us,  you  and  me  will  hire  a 
tradin'  viessel,  and  ship  a  new  crew  all  round,  and  come 
back  here  and  get  it.  We  can't  take  it  now  ;  every  man 
jack  aboard  would  want  a  shear ;  and  that  would  whittle 
our  pile  down  tarnation  small." 

"  The  cap'n's  right,"  said  Jackson  briefly. 

Peters  assented. 

Hackett  went  on,  "  Now  men,  you  know  why  Pm  in 


336  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

such  a  darned  hurry  for  you  to  get  back  from  Olozaga.  I 
want  you  to  have  enough  of  our  men  bespoke  to  work  the 
schooner,  and  be  ready  to  go  at  a  minute's  notice.  You 
understand." 

"Yes." 

"Now  start,  and  make  time.  You've  been  here  too 
long  already.     Good-luck." 

The  two  men  were  going,  when  Jackson  turned  back 
once  more.  "  Cap,"  said  he,  "  there  was  something  queer 
about  that  fracas  to-night.  Me  and  Peters  was  hid  in  the 
brush  by  the  stairs,  and  them  gals  was  out  there  in  the 
bushes  off  the  end  o'  your  house,  for  better'n  half  an  hour. 
We  couldn't  see  nothin',  but  we  thought  we  heard  'em 
talkin'  to  somebody.  And  Ben  never  fell  and  hurt  hisself. 
Somebody  done  it  for  him,  and  he's  too  big  a  fool  to  know 
it,  or  else  he's  'shamed  to  tell." 

"  Anythin' else  ?  " 

«  No." 

"  Wa-a-a-1 — glad  you  told  me.  I'll  keep  my  eye  skinned. 
Start  now,  boys  —no  time  to  lose.  Be  keerful  till  you 
are  fairly  off."  The  men  disappeared  in  Jthe  same  imper- 
ceptible soundless  manner  in  which  they  had  come. 

Hackett  kept  his  seat  by  the  window  while  Hartley 
fervently  wished  he  would  go.  In  spite  of  the  treasure- 
trove,  he  could  not  help  aching  with  fatigue  and  chilling 
with  damp,  and  the  last  piece  of  news  he  had  gained  from 
the  informer's  words  mingled  strong  apprehensions  with 
his  exultation.  He  thought  he  must  have  lain  in  his  lair 
for  two  hours,  though  it  was  less  than  one,  and  he  figured 
in  his  imagination  the  girls  waiting  in  dread  behind  the 
rock  and  wondering  why  he  did  not  come.  Beside,  and 
worse  than  all  the  rest,  there  clung  in  his  mind  a  haunting 
phantom  even  when  other  thoughts  were  prominent  or  when 
he  was  giving  his  attention  to  the  words  in  his  ears,  a  con- 
stant memory  that  he  was  degrading  himself  by  espionage. 
As  he  lay  there   his  sense  of   humiliation   had  grown  so 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  33? 

vStrong  that  he  vowed  to  himself  to  make  it  a  lesson  of  his 
life,  if  further  life  were  vouchsafed. 

Hackctt  called.  "  Come  closer,  Catarina,  come  sit  in 
my  lap."  Hartley  heard  her  dress  rustle  as  she  made  the 
change,  then  came  the  sound  of  a  kiss.  "  Whose  little 
baby  is  it  ?  "  said  Hackett,  with  a  wonderful  tenderness  in 
his  hard  voice,  and  forgetting  his  Spanish.  "Who  loves 
little  Reeny  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  girl  cooed  a  little  reply  in  soft  Spanish,  as  contented 
and  happy  to  the  ear  as  the  purring  of  a  kitten ;  and  she 
seemed  to  be  caressing  her  rough  lover. 

For  a  little  while  they  did  not  speak  ;  then  Hackett 
broke  the  silence.  "  How  do  you  like  the  idear  of  leavin' 
this  place,  Reeny  ?  " 

"  O,  so  much.     I  cannot  tell  you." 

"  I  know'd  you'd  be  glad  of  it,"  he  said  ;  "  I'm  glad  to  get 
away  myself.  In  one  week  more  I  hope  to  have  you  out  o' 
this  and  on  blue  water,  and  you'll  never  see  no  such  times 
again."  Then  he  went  on  and  explained  to  her  how  he 
happened  to  be  engaged  in  his  lawless  calling.  He  told 
her  that  when  he  was  still  almost  a  boy,  seventeen  years 
before,  he  had  been  captured  by  pirates  and  forced  to  become 
a  pirate  himself  to  save  his  life.  He  dwelt  somewhat  upon 
the  great  value  which  his  hard  early  life  had  taught  him  to 
put  upon  money,  and  gave  this  as  his  reason  for  adhering 
to  the  new  business.  He  "saw  there  was  money  in  it." 
Then,  as  his  conscience  revolted  against  the  cruelties,  he 
gradually  formed  a  scheme  to  raise  himself  to  rank  among 
the  buccaneers,  and  to  ameliorate  the  harsh  features  of  the 
pursuit,  at  the  same  time  that  he  rolled  up  his  own  fortune. 
He  concluded  by  saying  that,  except  the  ransom  system, 
which  he  had  got  pretty  thoroughly  introduced,  he  had 
failed.  That  did  good,  but  in  everything  else  his  efforts  had 
been  resultless.  He  had  not  made  the  great  amount  of 
money  he  expected,  and  he  saw  that  pirates  could  not  be 
improved.  His  own  gang  was  ready  to  cut  his  throat  for 
holding  them  in  restraint.  He  meant  to  go  away.an<i,Uy^ 
15 


338  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

somewhere  else,  and  have  a  good  time.  When  he  had 
finished  this  eccentric  account,  he  waited  for  a  reply,  but 
Catarina  did  not  speak. 

"  Ain't  you  glad  to  get  away  so  soon,  Reeny  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Yes,  John."  There  was  a  touch  of  plaintiveness  in 
her  voice  again. 

"Come,  cheer  up,  little  kitten,"  said  he,  jocosely. 
"  Don't  be  so  scared  about  the  baby.  'Twon*t  amount  to 
much,  I  reckon." 

The  girl  hesitated,  then  answered  with  a  solemnity 
strange  in  one  so  young.  "  John,  I  must  speak.  You  have 
deceived  me,  and  I  have  deceived  you.  I  am  not  frightened. 
I  do  not  fear  because  of  our  child.  I  know  that  you  have 
never  married  me — I  am  not  your  wife — I  am  like  Juliette. 
Wait ! — there  is  worse.  It  is  five  years  since  you  took  me 
from  my  mother  and  father,  but  I  have  not  forgotten.  Ah, 
if  I  could  only  be  with  my  mother."  She  began  a  silent 
weeping,  her  sobs  only  just  audible  to  the  listener  outside. 

Hackett  seemed  very  much  moved  by  her  grief,  judg- 
ing from  his  disconnected  exclamations.  "By  thunder  !  I 
s'posed  you'd  forget  all  about  it.  Don't  cry,  gal.  I  didn^t 
think  you'd  care.  Don't  take  on  so,  Reeny.  Stop  and 
listen,  and  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do."  The  sobbing  ceased. 
"  I  have  been  thinkin'  about  it  for  some  time,  and  I  have 
about  come  to  the  conclusion  it'll  be  the  best  thing  for  us 
to  get  married.  The  padre  in  Olozaga  '11  do  it  for  me. 
And  see  here,  Reeny,  if  you  do  really  care  about  seein' 
your  ma  and  pa,  I  know  where  they  live,  and  I'll  take  you 
there  after  we  are  spliced — -maybe  in  time  for  your  baby 
to  be  born  to  hum — it's  a  month  yet,  ain't  it  ?  " 

The  only  reply  which  could  at  first  be  heard,  was  the 
sound  of  the  kisses  which  she  showered  upon  him.  "  There, 
Reeny,  don't  smother  me — there,  that'll  do  now,"  said 
Hackett  good-naturedly.  Then  she  began  to  worship  him, 
and  bless  him,  and  in  every  tone  of  her  voice,  she  showed 
the  gladness  of  her  heart.  "  Come,  Reeny,"  said  he ;  "  we 
better  turn  in.    It's  right  late." 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  389 

Hartley  heard  the  sound  of  their  steps,  and  the  opening 
of  a  door,  and  saw  on  the  ceiling  the  reflection  of  the  light 
from  the  inner  room.  The  door  closed,  the  light  dis- 
appeared, and  he  was  at  last  at  liberty. 

Immediately,  he  began  to  turn  himself  aroimd  in  his 
narrow  bed.  So  stiff  was  he  with  the  long  protracted 
inaction,  that  at  first  it  gave  him  pain  to  move,  and  his 
limbs  would  hardly  obey  him  ;  but  disregarding  that,  he 
worked  his  way  out  of  the  thicket,  through  the  track  by 
which  he  had  entered.  Once  out,  he  sat  up  in  the  edge  of 
the  bushes,  took  off  his  coat,  turned  it,  and  put  it  on  prop- 
erly. "  There,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  buttons  or  no  buttons, 
that  looks  less  like  a  sneak."  Then  he  sat  stiil  to  con- 
sider.    What  he  had  heard  made  him  cautious. 

The  camp-fire  was  still  burning,  but  it  was  now  very 
low,  and  its  light  was  so  small  that  he  did  not  think  he 
would  run  any  great  risk  in  crossing  the  open  space 
between  himself  and  the  brook,  in  the  same  manner  as 
before.  He  commenced  to  work  along,  lying  flat  on  his 
breast.  But  when  about  half-way  across,  he  heard  a  light 
sound  of  footsteps,  and  of  rustling  leaves  before  him.  He 
looked  quickly.  Two  female  figures,  which  at  second  glance 
he  recognized  as  that  of  Mary  and  Isabel,  were  approach- 
ing through  the  undergrowth.  They  had  come  so  quietly 
that  he  had  not  heard  them  until  they  were  almost  at  the 
edge  of  the  bushes.  He  saw  that  they  would  pass  within 
a  few  feet  of  him,  and  knew  that  they  would  be  likely  in 
their  nervousness,  to  give  an  alarm  which  would  draw 
some  of  the  pirates  in  that  direction.  He  had  not  much 
time  in  which  to  choose  a  course  of  action.  He  adopted 
the  most  obvious  plan.  Rising  to  his  feet  he  walked 
swiftly  toward  the  girls,  calling  to  them  as  he  drew  near, 
in  a  low  but  distinct  voice. 

They  had  just  reached  the  brook  when  they  heard  him, 
and  Mary  had  drawn  back  to  spring  over.  At  his  call 
she  recoiled  still  further,  and  uttered  a  little  cry ;  but 
Isabel,  ever  courageous  and  self-possessed,  knew  him  at 


340  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

once,  and  hushed  her  cousin  speedily.  Hartley  joined 
them,  and  drawing  them  back  a  few  feet,  threw  himself 
behind  some  shrubs,  the  first  beginnings  of  the  under- 
growth, just  there  not  over  a  foot  high. 

"Sit  (fown  where  you  are,"  said  he.  "I'm  afraid  the 
look  out  has  noticed  your  voice,  Mary,  and  it  is  better  for 
you  and  Isabel  to  stay  in  sight  now.  If  he  comes  to  look 
he  may  think  you  two  are  only  sitting  out  here  to  talk  to- 
gether.    Isabel,  tell  me  what  Mr.  Dewhurst  says." 

"  He  can  think  of  no  better  plan  than  you  suggested— 
getting  out  of  the  back  window.  The  watchman  Antonio 
appears  to  be  asleep.  Cato  will  help  us  out  and  guide  us 
to  the  stairs.  Aunt  thinks  we  are  only  going  to  a  town  in 
the  country,  and  has  promised  to  be  brave.  She  doesn't 
know  you  are  with  us." 

"  What  am  7"  to  do  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

"  Make  your  way  up  the  stairs  and  wait  somewhere  near 
the  top  till  w^e  come."  Hartley  was  about  to  question  further, 
when  Mary  gave  a  terrified  whisper,  "  Hush  !  "  The  figure 
of  a  man  appeared  between  them  and  the  fire  walking 
leisurely  toward  them.  "  Antonio,"  whispered  Isabel,  and^ 
then  with  a  considerable  presence  of  mind  she  pretended 
to  draw  Mary's  attention  to  the  stars  overhead.  Mary 
arched  her  neck  and  gazed,  but  could  not  trust  herself  to 
speak. 

Isabel  could  think  of  only  one  constellation — one  which 
Mary  had  showed  her  some  time  before  as  Mr.  Garnet's 
favorite.  "  Alpha  Lyra  ?  "  "  Yes.  They  call  it  the  Lyre, 
Mary,  but  I  can't  see  any  resemblance.  Perhaps  it  would 
look  like  one  if  we  had  a  telescope.  There  it  is — that 
bright  star.  Right  there — don't  you  see  ?  Well,  look 
right  there,  now\  The  three  stars  that  make  a  triangle — 
they  are  pretty  close  to  each  other — and  Alpha — " 

By  this  time  the  man  had  reached  the  brook  and  stopped 
— Isabel  ceased  her  amateur  harping  on  the  beautiful  con- 
stellation, ajid  asked  in  a  dignified  manner,  "  What  do  you 
want  ?  "  - 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  34rl 

The  man  replied  in  broken  English,  "Nothing.  The 
young  ladies  stay  out  late.  You  will  get  sick."  Then 
turning  about,  he  walked  off  in  the  same  leisurely  way. 

Isabel  tried  to  talk  again,  but  made  a  lame  effort,  for 
she,  as  well  as  Hartley  and  Mary,  was  intensely  watching 
the  motions  of  the  lookout.  They  all  felt  that  there  was 
something  cat-like  and  treacherous  about  him.  He  went 
to  the  door  of  Hackett's  house,  opened  it  without  knocking 
and  walked  in. 

"  That's  a  bad  sign,"  said  Hartley.  "  Sit  still,  girls.  If 
you  move  now  it  would  look  suspicious.  I'll  try  to  get 
away."  He  began  to  creep  away,  and  Isabel  resumed  her 
talk  about  the  stars. 

In  a  minute  Hackett  came  running  out  of  his  house  with 
Antonio  following  him,  and  they  came  over  toward  the 
girls.  Hartley  had  got  about  fifteen  feet  away,  so  far  in  the 
undergrowth  that  he  was  expecting  to  get  off  without 
further  trouble,  when  he  heard  Isabel  give  a  quiet  little 
cough.     He  stopped  and  lay  still. 

Hackett's  sharp  voice  was  the  next  thing  he  heard. 
"  Good  evenin'.  Miss  Mary  !  Good  evenin'.  Miss  Bell !  All 
alone,  eh  ?  " 

Isabel  merely  answered,  "Good  evening.  Captain 
Hackett." 

"  You  are  stay  in'  out  late.  I  should  think  you'd  be 
afraid,  after  what  happened  to-night." 

"  No,"  replied  Isabel.  "  You  forget  you  promised  us  we 
should  not  be  molested  again.  We  are  depending  on  your 
word,  captain.'.' 

"  That's  generally  a  pretty  good  dependence,  too,  if  I 
do  say  it  myself ;  but  you  better  not  risk  yourself  out  o' 
my  sight  or  your  pa's,  specially  in  the  night  time.  Besides 
it's  unhealthy  out  o'  doors  here  at  night.  I  expect  you 
better  go  in." 

The  girls  took  this  broad  hint,  and  rising  to  their  feet 
prepared  to  depart.  "Help  me  over,  captain,  please," 
asked  Isabel,  pausing  before  the  ridiculous  little  brook,  and 


342  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

holding  out  her  hand  for  assistance.  He  gallantly  aided 
her  and  turned  to  assist  Mary,  but  she  was  already  across. 
Hartley  was  taking  advantage  of  Isabel's  delays  to  get  a 
little  further  off. 

"Wa-a-a-1,"  drawled  Hackett,  "good  evenin'."  Isabel 
still  lingered,  however,  anxious  to  give  Hartley  one  more 
chance.  "  Why,  captain,"  she  said  coquettishly,  "  you 
surely  are  not  going  to  let  us  walk  back  alone  after  giving 
us  such  a  fright.  That's  not  so  polite  as  I  thought  you  were. 
You  said  you  knew  good  company  when  you  saw  it."  The 
indomitable  girl  actually  laughed  a  merry  natural  laugh. 

"  Business  before  pleasure,"  returned  Hackett,  dryly. 
He  added,  in  a  tone  of  authority  Isabel  did  not  dare  to  dis- 
obey, "You  and  Miss  Mary  go  into  your  house  right  away." 

They  started  in  obedience  to  the  command,  whila 
Hackett  advancing,  went  into  the  bushes  with  Antonio. 
The  two  commenced  a  search,  beating  across  the  ground 
like  a  pair  of  bird  dogs.  Hartley  lay  perfectly  still,  listen- 
ing to  the  rustling  and  to  the  drumming  of  his  heart.  It 
was  so  dark  that  he  hoped  to  be  passed  by  unseen,  thus 
obtaining  one  more  opportunity  to  slip  away  further  while 
they  were  searching  the  ground  beyond  him.  With  only 
this  desperate  hope  he  waited.  Hackett's  turns  were  too 
short  and  quick  to  let  him  move. 

But  the  last  hope  was  vain.  Hackett  came  nearer  and 
nearer  at  every  moment,  and  finally,  without  having  seen  him, 
at  all,  stumbled  over  his  body  and  fell  down.  Hartley  sprung 
up,  but  Hackett  was  as  quick  as  he.  The  two  men  rushed 
together  without  a  word.  Hartley  clutching  the  pirate's 
throat  and  trying  to  trip  him,  Hackett  trying  to  master  his 
opponent's  wrists.  For  a  moment  only,  each  kept  to  the 
first  attempt.  Then  Hackett  grappled  the  agile  lieutenant 
around  the  body,  and  put  all  his  strength  into  an  effort  to 
throw  him  down.  Hartley  was  too  quick,  frustrating  his 
adversary,  and  at  the  same  time  taking  a  wrestler's  grip 
himself. 

Then  the  two  began  to  tug  and  strain.     Hackett  was  too 


A  STOET  OF  THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  343 

powerful  for  Hartley's  fierce  attempts  to  avail ;  Hartley- 
was  so  nimble  that  he  evaded  strength  by  activity  and 
supple  turnings.  Suddenly  he  felt  a  new  grasp,  however. 
The  man  Antonio,  coming  up  behind,  had  seized  him  around 
the  body,  pinioning  both  arms  in  his  embrace.  Hackett 
let  go  his  hold,  and  Hartley  heard  next  the  click  of  a  pistol- 
lock  arid  a  stern  summons  to  surrender.  Feeling  at  once 
the  uselessness  of  further  struggle  against  such  a  potent 
advantage,  he  remained  quiet,  relaxing  his  muscles. 

"  Do  you  give  it  up  ?  "  asked  Hackett. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  sober  reply. 

"It's  good  for  you,  you  do,"  his  captor  grimly  remarked. 
"Who  are  you?" 

"  Lieutenant  Hartley,  of  the  Flying  Fish." 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

"  I  was  left  in  the  water  for  dead  after  the  fight ;  and  I 
swam  ashore,  and  followed  your  men  up  the  creek." 

"  What  are  you  hanging  about  here  for  ? — never  mind 
now  though.     Come  along  !  " 

Antonio  led  the  little  procession,  then  came  Hartley 
following,  and  Hackett  brought  up  the  rear,  pistol  in  hand. 
None  of  them  had  anything  to  say. 

When  they  went  around  the  corner  of  the  captain's 
house,  there  stood  the  two  girls,  almost  dead  with  fright. 
Mary  seeing  how  Hartley  was  guarded,  thought  he  was 
going  to  instant  execution.  She  gave  one  great  cry,  threw 
herself  upon  her  lover's  breast,  and  began  to  beseech 
Hackett  piteously  to  spare  his  life.  "  O,  he  wasn't  to  blame  !  " 
she  begged,  "  indeed  he  wasn't  ! — he  came  to  see  me.  O 
good  captain,  don't  hurt  him  ! — don't  kill  him  ! — it  wasn't 
his  fault !  "     And  so  she  went  on  agonizedly. 

"  Sho  !  "  thought  Hackett.  "  That's  what  made  her  so 
glad  to  see  the  cruiser  yesterday.  Thought  she  was  power- 
ful interested." 

Isabel,  carried  away  by  her  own  iears,  and  the  infection 
of  Mary's  terrible  contagious  alarm,  addressed  her  petitions 
also  to  Hackett,  trying  to  explain  that  Hartley  had  come 


344  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

because  he  was  nearly  drowned  and  starved.  Hackett  was 
outwardly  as  cool  as  ice,  and  perfectly  unmoved  by  their 
supplications.  He  shrewdly  noticed  inconsistencies  be- 
tween the  lieutenant's  statement  and  Isabel's  ready-made 
account  for  his  presence,  while  waiting  for  an  opportunity 
to  speak.  At  the  same  time,  he  felt  a  lenient  inclination 
toward  the  prisoner,  for  he  judged  from  Mary's  devotion 
that  she  was  the  only  cause  of  his  coming. 

As  soon  as  he  got  a  chance  to  slip  in  a  word  he  did  so, 
short  and  sharp.  "  He  shan't  be  hurt.  Get  away,  ladies ; 
let  us  move  on.     There'll  be  a  crowd  here  in  a  minute." 

Isabel  stopped,  satisfied  at  tliat,  but  Mary  still  hung  on 
her  lover's  neck  pleading  for  his  life,  and  dumb  to  all  sounds. 
Not  till  Hackett  ordered  her  to  fall  back,  and  Isabel  assured 
her  that  Hartley  was  safe,  and  Hartley  himself  urged  her  to 
let  him  go,  did  she  relinquish  her  grasp.  It  must  be  avowed 
that  Hartley  did  not  like  her  intercession,  beautiful  as  it 
was  in  its  love  and  spirit  of  self-sacrifice.  He  did  not  feel 
any  necessity  for  it :  it  hurt  his  dignity,  and  made  him  feel 
degraded  in  the  eyes  of  his  captor.  His  pride,  revolting 
from  the  evening's  concealment,  had  already  made  him 
resolve  to  die  with  decorum,  and  Mary's  asking  was  as 
though  he  were  begging  for  himself.  It  was  a  relief  when 
she  ceased. 

As  they  moved  on,  Hackett  spoke  to  Isabel,  in  a  sar- 
castic tone.  "  Why,  Miss  Bell,  I'm  surprised  you  was 
willin'  to  leave  such  a  fine  beau,  and  ask  me  to  fetch  you 
in  !     I  can't  see  into  that." 

She  could  not  notice  his  raillery  then.  She  and  Mary 
walked  along,  one  on  each  side  of  Hartley,  until  they 
reached  their  own  door,  which  was  but  a  few  paces  beyond. 

Mary  thought  Henry  would  kiss  her ;  but  he  merely 
said,  "Good-night,  Isabel;  farewell,  Mary,"  and  strode  off, 
leaving  her  looking  wistfully  after  him  from  her  threshold. 

Hackett  stopped  at  the  next  house,  opened  the  door, 
and  ordered  Hartley  to  go  in.  He  obeyed  his  captor,  who 
entered  after  him  and  struck  a  light.     Hartley  looked  at 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  34:5. 

the  room.  It  was  bare  of  ornament  and  of  furniture, 
except  that  a  single  chair  stood  near  the  open  window, 
and  there  was  a  candle  on  the  shelf.  In  the  back  of  the 
chair,  near  the  seat,  was  a  Yankee  notion  in  the  form 
of  a  pair  of  leathern  handcuffs,  fitted  to  buckle  on,  and 
firmly  secured  in  their  place.  A  similar  but  larger  pair, 
evidently  meant  for  anklets,  were  secured  on  the  loWer 
front  round  of  the  chair. 

"  Set  down,  and  put  your  hands  behind  you,"  ordered 
Hackett.  Hartley  obeyed.  "  Put  'em  on,  Antone."  The 
man  Antonio  went  behind  the  chair,  and  buckled  the  pair 
of  leathern  cuffs  close  about  Hartley's  wrists.  Then  com- 
ing to  the  front,  he  did  the  same  for  the  anklets,  leaving 
the  prisoner  as  helpless  in  his  bonds  as  a  baby.  "  I  ain't 
got  any  place  to  put  you  to-night,  or  I'd  give  you  a  bed," 
said  the  captain.  "  Here,  Antone,  lend  a  hand  to  set  him 
so  he  can  lean  his  head  back,  if  he  wants  a  nap,"  ThQ 
two  picked  up  the  chair,  with  Hartley  in  it,  and  put  him 
down  again  by  the  window  in  such  a  position  that  he 
could  lean  his  head  back  against  its  casing.  Never  before 
in  his  life  had  he  felt  such  a  profound  humiliation.  To  be 
lifted  about  by  such  people,  like  so  much  helpless  dead- 
weight, was  almost  too  much  for  his  proud  spirit.  But 
still  he  inclined  his  head  and  said : 
"Thank  you." 

"  You're  welcome,"  replied  Hackett.     "  I'll  put  you  in 
a  better  place   to-morrow.      It's  so  late  now   you'll  get 
along  very  well  till  day,  I  reckon." 
"  What  time  is  it  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 
"  Nigh  midnight,"  was  the  answer. 
"  Good  heavens !  "  thought  Hartley,  "  is  it  possible  that 
only  eight  hours  ago  I  was  in  the  ship  ?     Can  so  much 
have  happened  in  this  little  while  ?  "  and  he  went  on  with 
his  reflections,  which  were  too  much  mixed  and  confused 
to  have  yet  taken  a  decided  character  for  bitterness  or 
gladness ;  all  the  while  closely  watching  the  mc  vements  of 
the  two  men. 
15* 


S4^6  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Hackett  was  looking  about  uneasily  as  if  afraid  he  had 
forgotten  something.  He  went  up  to  Hartley,  felt  of  his 
fastenings,  and  satisfied  himself  they  were  secure.  Then 
he  spoke  to  the  watchman.  "  Antone,  you  stay  till  Arrow- 
son  musters  the  relief  at  two  bells,  and  tell  him  to  put 
Mark  on  here.  Look  out  for  both  houses.  Take  my  pistol, 
and  don't  let  this  prisoner  get  away."  Antonio  took  the 
weapon  and  went  outside.  The  captain  followed  him  to  the 
door  himself  and  looked  out.  On  what  little  things  do  our 
lives  and  fortunes  sometimes  depend  !  Hackett  turned 
once  more  and  regarded  his  prisoner,  whose  head  had  sunk 
back  with  exhaustion  against  the  window  casing,  while 
the  light  shone  in  his  eyes.  Perhaps  it  was  humanity, 
perhaps  the  economical  habit  of  early  years  unconsciously 
reviving ;  but  for  some  reason  he  walked  to  the  shelf  on 
which  sat  the  candle,  took  the  light  down  and  blew  it  out, 
replaced  it  carefully,  and  went  away. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


PROFOUKD  silence  reigned  over  all,  the  darkness  was 
deep,  the  air  motionless.  There  was  no  noise  of  insects 
to  vibrate  on  the  ear,  no  sound  from  the  surf,  no  rustling 
from  pendulous  leaves  on  drooping  limbs.  The  night  was 
asleep. 

It  was  a  time  eminently  fitted  to  indqce  and  aid  reflec- 
tion in  the  waking  mind  ;  and  certainly  Hartley  reflected. 
He  pondered,  at  first  confusedly ;  his  thought  gradually 
taking  method  and  shape.  A  medley  of  remembrances, 
flashes  of  some  of  the  evening's  scenes  returning,  momen- 
tary kindlings  of  heat  at  recalling  a  past  peril,  sudden 
sinkings  of  despondency  at  the  thought  of  his  present 
situation  and  prospects,  quick  spasms  of  disgust  at  the 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  347 

idea  of  his  espionage,  "warin  flushings  of  love  and  delight 
in  recollecting  Mary's  welcome,  her  words,  her  kisses  and 
embraces  ;  an  expansive  sensation  of  wealth  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  secret  burial-place  of  the  pirates'  treasure  ; 
wonderings  whether  his  shipmates  were  thinking  of  him, 
and  devising  a  plan  for  his  rescue ;  regrets  that  at  some 
point  in  the  evening,  he  had  not  acted  differently ;  suspi- 
cions of  Cato's  fidelity ;  grief  at  the  failure  of  their  hopes 
of  escape  ;  presentiments  of  coming  evil,  and  wild  schemes 
for  self-deliverance — all  these  filled  his  mind  together,  or 
in  a  quick  succession,  his  thoughts  changing  with  the 
rapidity  and  diversity  of  kaleidoscopic  patterns.  By  and  by 
his  head  became  clearer  j  and  at  last  he  suddenly  brought 
himself  up  in  his  vagaries  by  an  effort  of  will.  Forcing 
himself  to  attention,  he  considered  what  had  better  be  his 
conduct  and  line  of  defence,  in  case  he  should  be  accused, 
as  he  expected  to  be,  of  having  played  the  spy.  He  went 
over  the  accidental  circumstances  which  had  thrown  him 
into  a  position  to  make  a  choice  whether  to  visit  the  camp 
or  stay  away,  as  well  as  the  motives  which  had  caused  him 
to  come.  He  asked  himself  whether  he  would  have  come 
without  the  attraction  of  Mary's  presence  among  the 
pirates.  Now  that  he  was  more  at  leisure,  and  calmer,  he 
naturally  began  to  take  a  view  more  favorable  to  himself. 
His  reason  told  him  that  he  could  not  rightly  be  called  by 
the  name  his  military  conscience  so  much  loathed.  His 
conduct  now  appeared  no  such  very  blameworthy  matter  ; 
he  even  concluded  he  had  a  right  to  impart  the  accidental 
knowledge  he  had  obtained  to  his  superior  ofiicer.  After 
reaching  this  state  of  mind,  his  course  was  plain.  He 
would  boldly  declare  that  he  had  come  to  see  his  betrothed 
wife,  calling  upon  Hackett  to  confirm  the  statement  by 
examining  Mr.  Dewhurst  and  Mary  herself ;  and  he  would 
offer  to  pay  a  reasonable  sum,  to  be  set  free  with  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst's  family.  He  feared  that  if  the  pirates  spared  his 
life,  their  desires  for  secrecy  would  prevent  them  from 
granting  him  his  freedom.     Still,  he  was  able  to  let  this 


348  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

matter  drop  without  any  great  annoyance,  and  with  a  mind^ 
much  more  at  ease. 

Then  he  fell  to  wondering  if  there  were  no  chance  to 
get  away,  and  to  puzzling  alter  some  plan  of  escape.  The 
man  Antonio  was  not  visible,  and  Hartley  knew  that  he 
himself  could  not  be  seen  in  the  darkness,  even  by  a  person 
looking  directly  where  he  sat.  He  tried  vainly  to  slip  his 
hands  out  of  the  leathern  bonds.  If  he  could  do  that 
he  knew  he  could  unbuckle  the  anklets  and  walk  away  ; 
but  he  found  that  the  wristlets  fitted  too  closely  to  slip. 
The  pliant  leather  clung  to  its  place,  and  would  not  move. 
Giving  up  that  attempt,  he  strove  with  all  his  strength  to 
break,  first  one,  and  then  the  other,  of  the  handcufis.  He 
pulled  and  strained  till  his  eyes  felt  as  if  they  would  leap 
from  their  sockets,  and  his  hands  seemed  to  be  coming  off, 
and  the  chair  creaked.  Then  he  gave  it  up.  They  were 
stronger  than  he. 

He  yielded  for  a  time,  and  leaned  his  head  back  on  the 
casing  of  the  window,  thinking  he  would  rest  a  little  while. 
The  fatigue  of  all  the  exertions  he  had  made  now  asserted 
itself.  His  mind  went  pleasantly  to  its  beloved  familiar 
subject — Mary — and  directly  he  was  blissfully,  peacefully 
sleeping. 

Without  knowing  how  long  he  had  been  asleep,  or,  in 
fact,  realizing  that  he  had  lost  himself  at  all,  he  gently 
awoke  again.  He  was  vaguely  wondering  what  was  the 
matter,  and  trying  to  recollect,  when  he  was  instantly 
brought  back  to  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties  by  feeling 
something  cold  and  clammy  for  an  instant  pressed  upon  his 
check,  and  then  drawn  slowly  backward.  The  sensation 
made  him  shiver  all  over.  He  quickly  turned  his  head  to 
see  what  it  was,  when  he  caught  the  sound  of  a  low  unmis- 
takable warning  "  sh  !  "  At  that  he  held  perfectly  stilly 
fearful  of  losing  some  advantage,  and  listening  intently  out 
of  the  window  and  front  door  at  once.  In  a  few  minutes 
something  light  appeared  before  his  face.  It  came  closer, 
and  he  recognized  the  blade  of  a  dirk  k^ife,  and  coujd  make 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  3:1:9 

out  the  dim  outlines  of  the  hand  and  arm  which  held  it. 
Nearer  it  slowly  came,  until  it  was  within  four  inches  of 
his  eyes,  where  it  was  held  still  with  the  point  down  arid 
the  flat  of  the  blade  toward  him.  There  was  something 
ghostly  al>out  the  apparition,  something  sinister  and  malign 
ill  the  pale  gleaming  of  the  white  steel  in  the  darkness,  and 
for  an  instant  Hartley  felt  a  genuine  terror  that  prompted 
him  to  overturn  himself  in  the  chair  and  call  for  help.  But 
half  spell-bound,  half  using  his  will,  he  refrained.  He 
twisted  still  further  around  toward  the  window  and  saw  a 
dark  head  outside.  At  once  he  knew  it  to  be  Cato,  and  his 
blood  flowed  again.  He  comprehended  that  the  knife  was 
profiered  to  cut  his  bonds,  and  as  well  as  he  could  fn  that 
constrained  position,  made  a  gesture  of  dissent.  Resuming 
his  sitting  posture,  he  looked  with  the  eagerness  of  fresh 
hope  out  of  the  door.     The  sentry  was  not  to  be  seen. 

Cato  held  the  knife  still  for  a  few  seconds  longer,  then 
seeming  to  understand  why  it  was  not  taken,  rose  up, 
leaned  softly  in  the  window,  and  felt  for  Hartley's  hands. 
When  assured  of  their  position,  he  slipped  the  blade  be- 
tween the  leather  and  the  skin,  and  with  a  slow  withdraw- 
ing motion  cut  the  left  wristlet  in  two.  Hartley  remained 
motionless  until  the  right  hand  also  was  freed;  then,  taking 
the  knife  with  the  greatest  care,  he  cut  through  the  anklets 
as  more  expeditious  than  unbuckling  them,  and  returned 
the  knife  to  Cato.  Stooping  softly,  he  took  off  his  shoes, 
handing  each  out  of  the  window;  and  then  he  stood  erect. 

He  went  to  the  window  with  two  cat-like  steps,  fearing 
every  second  to  hear  a  board  creak  betrayingly  in  the  floor. 
He  put  out  one  leg,  and,  bending  beneath  the  sash,  advanced 
his  head  and  body.  Cato  took  him  in  his  arms,  lifted  him 
slowly  out,  and  set  him  on  his  feet.  Then,  taking  his 
hand,  Cato  immediately  led  the  way  along  the  back  of  the 
houses. 

When  they  came  to  the"^  interval  between  the  house  in 
which  Hartley  had  been  confined,  and  the  one  in  which  tho 
Dewhursts  were  sleeping,  Cato  pressed  Hartley's  arm  as  a 


350  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

sign  to  follow  his  motions,  and  lying  down  flat  on  the 
ground,  proceeded  to  work  his  way  over  snake  wise.  Hart- 
ley followed,  the  two  rising  again  when  they  got  behind 
the  house. 

Hartley  did  not  stop  to  indulge  romantic  feelings,  or 
even  to  think  of  trying  to  rescue  his  friends.  His  strength 
was  so  much  exhausted  that  he  knew  he  would  be  useless 
to  anybody  else,  and  doubted  whether  he  would  be  able  to 
get  himself  away.  He  followed  his  guide  with  the  same 
precaution  as  before,  but  without  pausing. 

At  the  further  corner  Cato  stopped,  and  speaking  for 
the  first  time,  whispered,  *'  De  cap'n  sleep  pow'ful  light." 
For  alnoment  he  seemed  irresolute,  but  then  he  lay  down 
and  bravely  advanced  again.  Hartley  following.  He  re- 
marked as  they  neared  the  house  that  all  the  windows  were 
open.  They  reached  the  corner,  and  Cato,  instead  of  rising, 
went  along  in  the  narrow  path  behind  the  rear  wall  on  his 
hands  and  knees.  They  moved  almost  inch  by  inch,  put- 
ting down  their  hands  with  a  velvety  care,  and  drinking  in 
the  faintest  sounds.  Under  the  window  of  Hackett's  room 
they  could  hear  the  deep  breathing  of  his  sleep,  but  they 
relaxed  no  precaution. 

The  danger  and  anxiety  and  hope  that  Hartley  felt  had 
again  strung  up  his  wearied  muscles,  and  made  tense  his 
nerves.  The  captain's  house  passed,  Cato  turned  to  the 
left,  and  still  creeping  along,  skirted  the  curve  of  the 
undergrowth  toward  the  stairs.  At  each  foot  of  progress 
he  advanced  more  rapidly  and  with  greater  assurance.  It 
took  but  a  little  time  for  them  to  pass  over  the  intervening 
ground,  to  clamber  up  the  slope,  and  to  slip  into  the  per- 
fect obscurity  of  the  cleft.  Cato  took  Hartley's  hand  and 
led  him  up  the  rough  ascent.  He  stopped  at  the  top  to. 
rest,  out  of  breath  with  the  long  steep  climb,  and  his  feet 
bruised  through  his  so.cks  by  the  sharp  rocks.  He  asked 
Cato  for  his  shoes.  "  Not  yet,  sah,"  was  the  whisper  back. 
"Dey  might  hee-eh  you  walkin',  wid  'em  on.  Come  on, 
sah." 


A   STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  35  X 

They  walked  toward  the  left,  in  what  could  be  dimly 
discerned  in  the  fuller  light  of  that  higher  ground  as  a 
path  among  the  trees.  It  lay  parallel  with  the  edge  of 
the  bluff,  and  about  twenty  yards  from  it.  Over  the  brink, 
Hartley  looked  into  the  blackness  of  the  pit  below  as  into 
a  yawning  crater.  From  the  camp-fire  one  last  ember  shot 
a  red  gleam,  and  he  thought  of  it  as  the  solitary  spark  be- 
traying a  silent  volcano,  still  and  dark,  but  holding  in  its 
bosom  the  lurid  fires  of  all  hell's  passions.  As  he  walked 
softly  and  rapidly  by,  he  saw  dimly  the  roof  that  covered 
Mary,  and  he  felt  for  an  instant  exquisite  longing  and  pain 
at  forsaking  her.  But  then  he  remembered  how  great 
would  be  her  joy  in  the  morning  when  she  learned  that  he 
was  gone,  and  what  she  had  told  him  of  ransom,  and  that 
he  could  not  help  her  better  than  by  getting  to  the  ship 
and  leading  back  a  party  of  rescue.  His  heart  was  light 
again. 

Soon  they  had  passed  the  glen,  and  following  the  path, 
entered  a  scattering  wood  on  high  level  land.  "  Set  down 
and  lemme  put  you'  shoes  on,  Mass'  Henry,"  said  Cato. 
He  performed  that  office  for  Hartley,  carefully  brushing 
off  the  sticks,  sand,  and  little  pebbles  that  adhered  to  his 
stockings.  "  Now,  ^ah,  we  got  to  scratch  grabbel,"  re- 
marked Cato  briefly,  assisting  the  lieutenant  to  rise.  He 
took  his  hand  again  and  set  off  at  a  swift  walk.  The  walk 
became  faster  and  faster  until  they  were  running.  Cato's 
hand  was  a  great  help  to  Hartley. 

In  five  minutes  or  so  the  path  forked,  the  plain  branch 
lead  off  to  the  right.  In  the  fainter  track  to  the  left 
Cato  turned,  reducing  their  gait  to  a  walk.  "  I  spec'  we's 
all  right  now.  Mass  Henry,"  he  said.  "  I  was  in  a  hurry 
cause  de  reliei  goes  on  direckly,  an'  dey'U  miss  you  then. 
I  wants  to  git  in  dat  canoe  and  den  dey  can't  ketch  us. 
Dere  ain't  no  odder  boat  fo'  two,  free  mile  up  on  dis  side." 

"  Are  you  sure  the  canoe's  there  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 

"I  know  whar  she  was  yes'day,  sab." 

"  Suppose  she  is  gone." 


o52  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  Swim  de  ribbah,  sah.     Boat  on  de  odder  side." 

"  I'm  afraid  I'm  too  tired  to  do  any  more  swimming," 
said  Hartley. 

"  It's  narrer  at  de  p*int,  an'  I'll  help  you  obah.  I'se  a 
good  swimmer,  Mass'  Henry." 

Hartley  remembered  Cato's  feat  in  escaping  to  the  shore 
with  irons  on,  and  thought  this  boast  was  not  a  vain  one. 

"  But  please  de  Lor',  de  canoe'U  be  dere,"  went  on  Cato. 
"  Dere  ain't  been  no  'casion  fo'  nobody  to  tech  her." 

They  w^ere  now  on  sloping  ground,  descending  grad- 
ually. Hartley  had  got  his  breath,  and  told  Cato  to  go 
ahead  as  fast  as  he  pleased,  whereupon  the  darkey  set  off 
running  again,  assisting  his  companion  as  before.  Directly 
Hartley  caught  sight  of  water  through  the  trees.  Cato 
left  the  path,  turning  to  right.  A  few  steps  took  them  to 
the  edge  of  a  steep  slope  of  earth  bordering  a  narrow 
stream.  Letting  go  Hartley's  hand,  and  admonishing  him 
to  care,  Cato  slid  down  boldly.  The  officer  followed,  and 
found  himself,  after  a  rapid  descent,  on  the  shore  of  the 
creek. 

They  walked  down  to  where  a  large  tree  grew  out  of 
the  foot  of  the  slope,  inclining  over  the  water.  By  it  lay 
a  long  dark  object  on  the  sand.  "  De  canoe,"  said  Cato, 
proceeding  to  cast  of  the  painter  by  which  she  was  secured 
to  the  tree.  He  felt  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe.  "  Here's 
de  paddles — all  right,"  he  said.  Then  he  listened  intently 
for  a  moment.  "  Dey  has  missed  you,  sah  ;  we  better  go," 
said  he.  Stooping  down  he  sent  the  light  craft  into  the 
water  with  one  vigorous  shove.  "  Git  in,  Mass'  Henry. 
Set  still  in  de  bottom."  Hartley  stepped  into  the  crank 
boat  with  care ;  Cato  followed  him,  and  tJ|Jcing  a  paddle, 
propelled  her  down  the  creek  and  into  the  adjacent  river 
with  vigorous  strokes.  Hartley  tried  to  assist  in  paddling, 
but  as  Cato  told  him  he  would  only  skin  his  fingers,  with- 
out doing  any  good  if  he  was  not  accustomed  to  the  exer- 
cise, he  desisted,  and  indulged  the  delicious  feeling  that 
came  over  him  at  finding -himself  once  more  afloat. 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  353 

Cato  directed  the  canoe  straight  across  the  stream  into 
the  gloom  of  the  high  trees  growing  upon  the  opposite 
lower  shore.  Once  there,  he  relaxed  his  efforts  somewhat, 
and  began  to  talk.  **'  See  dat  p'int  up  yondah  ?  "  he  asked, 
"  behind  you,  sah.  Plenty  o'  water  for  a  big  ship  round 
dere.  Dey  calls  it  de  pond.  Golly  !  sah.  You  mighty 
hard  to  wake.  I  t'ought  I  hab  to  gib  it  up.  You  nebber 
stir  when  Antone  come  in  to  see  you." 

"I  must  have  been  asleep  a  long  time,"  said  Hartley. 

*>  Ony  'bout  half-an  hour.  I  seed  Miss  Ma-ay  and  Mass' 
Dewhuss,  and  make  all  de  'rangemsnts  fo'  dem  to  go — 
mighty  foolish  ting,  too,  sah — dis  ole  canoe  wouldn't 
hardly  hole  so  many — and  Miss  Mary  and  Miss  Bell  done 
went  out  to  tell  you.  When  I  seed  Antone  slippin'  after 
'em,  I  know'd  dere  was  mischief  a-comin' — dat  Antone's 
pow'ful  sly — an'  I  jess  watch  sharp.  Den  I  see  de  cap'n 
go  out,  and  hee-eh  de  scuf&e,  an'  I  hid  in  de  brush  behin* 
de  house  whar  you  was,  an'  I  laid  pow'ful  low.  I  seed  de 
cap'n  talkin'  to  you,  an'  I  hee-ed  all  what  he  said.  I 
wouldn't  try  to  do  nuffin'  till  Antone  come  in — I  know'd 
den  he  wouldn't  bodder  any  mo',  for  his  time  was  nigh  out ; 
so  I  wokened  you  up.     You  was  pow'ful  sleepy,  too." 

The  negro  paused  awhile,  and  rested  himself  by  pad- 
dling faster.  By  and  by  his  exertions  diminished,  the 
canoe  moved  more  slowly  through  the  water,  and  he  went 
on.  "Deep  watah  on  dis  side.  De  ship  could  come  in 
here  easy  on  de  range." 

"  What  is  the  range  ?  " 

*'  Tree  on  de  p'int  up  yondah,  an'  umberell  tree  on  de 
sho'.     You  know  de  range  into  de  Hole,  sah  ?  " 

«  No." 

"  Ebbah  notice  de  big  white- wash  rock  on  de  hill  ?  " 

"  Yes,  often." 

"Dere's  a  tree  'bout  half-way  down  to  de  watah. 
Dat's  it.     Use  lanterns  at  night." 

"How  do  they  know  on  shore  when  to  put  the  lights 
on  the  range  ?  "  asked  Hartley. 


854  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"Lambrilyer  alluz  burn  a  green  light.  De  lookout  he 
see  it,  an'  he  takes  de  lanterns  out  o'  de  box,  an'  sets  one 
of  'em  on  de  rock,  an'  de  odder  on  de  groun'  by  de  tree. 
Den  when  de  schooner  see  'em  she  burn  a  red  light,  and 
Stan'  in." 

All  the  while  they  had  been  descending  the  stream  rap- 
idly, under  the  combined  influence  of  its  swift  current, 
and  the  negro's  skilful  use  of  the  paddles.  Not  a  sound 
of  pursuit  had  been  heard  since  they  left  the  creek. 
Hartley,  who  had  been  looking  ahead  with  a  straining 
gaze  for  the  sea,  now  observed  that  the  river  broadened 
to  its  debouchure.  So  entirely  was  his  confidence  reestab- 
lished in  his  sable  savior,  that  he  had  not  yet  thought  to 
ask  where  he  was  going,  and  the  question  now  suddenly 
occurred  to  his  mind. 

"  Well,  sah,"  was  the  answer,  "  it's  so  dark,  dere's  no 
use  tryin'  to  get  to  de  ship  to-night.  De  watah's  sraoovft 
now,  but  s'pose  we  go  out,  an'  it  come  on  to  blow  a  little—^ 
we  be  in  a  bad  fix  in  dis  canoe.  We  don'  know  wedder 
de  ship  hee-eh  or  no — ef  she  is,  it's  too  dark  to  fin'  her. 
S'pose  we'  go  two,  free  mile  off  sho'  at  day,  and  no  ship  ? 
Cap'n  Hackett  sen'  a  boat  and  fotch  us  back  agin." 

Hartley  assented  to  the  correctness  of  this  reasoning. 
"  I  suppose  we  had  better  lay  up  along  shore  somewhere, 
and  see  what  we  can  do  in  the  morning,"  said  he. 

"Yes,  sah." 

"  You'll  know  best  where  to  go,  Cato.  What  is  your 
notion  ?  " 

"  My  notion,  sah,  to  keep  to  dis  sho'  right  on  down. 
'Bout  a  quarter  dis  side  of  de  wes'  p'int,  dere's  a  neck  wid 
brush  on  it.  'Tain't  mo'n  forty  steps  acrost  it,  an'  we  can 
take  de  canoe  in  de  brush  on  top,  an'  hide  dere.  Den  if 
dey  come  arter  us,  we  can  put  de  canoe  in  de  watah  on  de 
odder  side,  an'  git  a  long  start — dey'U  have  to  go  'roun' 
de  p'int  wid  de  boat.  Dat'll  gib  us  time  to  git  to  de  la- 
goon, sah,  and  de  debbil  hissef  couldn't  fin'  dis  chile  in 
dere." 


A   STORY   OF  TBE  AMEEICAN  NAVY.  355 

"  Then  it  would  be  a  good  place  for  you  to  go  to  die, 
Cato,"  said  Hartley. 

"  He-yaw- w-w  !  yaw  !  yaw  !  Spec'  I  done  laugh  too 
loud.  Yaw  !  yaw  !  If  de  cruiser's  anywheres  about  in 
d€  mornin',  sah,  we  kin  jess  go  off  to  her.  Dey  won't 
want  to  foller  us  den,  I  spec'." 

Hartley  liked  the  plan. 

Five  minutes  more  of  paddling  brought  them  to  a 
a  place  where  the  shore  was  a  steep  slope  without  trees. 
Cato  turned  the  bow  of  the  canoe  to  land,  and  put  her 
ashore  with  a  few  strong  strokes  of  his  paddle.  They 
stepped  out,  pulled  her  upon  the  beach,  and  taking  her  on 
their  shoulders,  staggered  up  the  grade.  The  slope  was 
covered  with  bushes  three  or  four  feet  high,  among  which 
they  directed  their  way.  Three  times  Hartley  was  obliged 
by  his  weariness  and  weakness  to  stop  and  lay  down  his 
burden,  but  at  last  they  reached  the  top.  He  found  him- 
self on  a  ridge,  perhaps  thirty  feet  in  height,  with  the 
water  close  at  hand  on  either  side.  Cato  went  back  for 
the  paddles,  returning  to  find  Hartley  lying  exhausted  on 
the  ground. 

"  Dat's  right.  Mass'  Henry,  I  spec's  you  is  mos'  tired  to 
def.  Hee-eh's  sumpen  '11  do  you  good — I  jess  borryed  it 
from  Mass'  Dewhuss — I  t'ought  maybe  it  would  be  handy." 
"  Sumpen  "  was  a  flask.  Hartley  was  faintly  surprised  to 
find  that  it  contained  as  good  French  brandy  as  he  had 
ever  drunk  in  his  life,  and  he  took  a  deep  pull. 

"  Thank  you,  Cato.  That's  the  very  water  of  life,"  said 
he,  handing  back  the  flask. 

"  Oh,  no,  sah,  that's  brandy.  Ody-vee,  some  calls  it — jess 
like  ile."  Cato  tried  the  liquor  himself.  "  Now  you  jess 
go  to  sleep.  Mass'  Henry,  and  I'll  keep  awake  and  watch. 
You  ain't  got  no  chawin'  terbacker,  has  you,  sah  ?  " 

Hartley  fumbled  in  his  breast  pocket  and  found  some 
cigars  badly  damaged  by  salt  water.  "  That's  all  I  have, 
Cato,"  said  he,  lying  back  again.  "  Call  me  in  an  hour." 
The  words  were  hardly  spoken  before  he  was  asleep. 


356  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

The  next  thing  he  knew,  he  awoke  with  a  start  and 
bumped  his  head.  Cato  had  dragged  the  canoe  to  his  side, 
and  turned  it  over  so  as  to  shield  him  from  the  dew  ;  and 
it  was  on  the  gunwale  that  he  struck  his  head.  "Eh  !  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  Eight  bells  already  ?  Light  my  candle, 
quartermaster.  Where  am  I  ?  "  Then  realizing  that  he 
was  not  on  shipboard  in  his  state-room,  he  crawled  out  from 
under  the  canoe  and  sat  up. 

The  light  of  the  morning  covered  everything  about  with 
an  air  of  cheerfulness.  The  trees  across  the  river  were  very 
fresh  and  green,  and  the  stream  itself  ran  smoothly  by,  with 
something  suggestive  of  joy  fulness  in  its  fluent  motion. 
Outside  there  was  in  view  a  part  of  the  familiar  ocean 
horizon.  Oato  knelt  by  him,  peering  through  the  bushes, 
his  broad  black  face  full  of  good  humor,  and  looking  not  a 
whit  the  worse  for  his  night's  unselfish  vigil.  *' Time  to 
git  up,  Mass'  Henry ;  sun's  mose  up,  an'  I  believe  I  see  de 
cruiser  frough  the  trees  ober  yondah." 

*'  Where  ?  "  asked  Hartley,  very  wide  awake  all  at  once. 

"  Keep  down,  sah,  keep  down,  dey  might  see  you  yit. 
Kight  in  dere — dere's  sumpen  white."  Hartley's  quick 
nautical  glance  fell  on  the  sails  of  a  square-rigged  vessel  in 
the  direction  indicated.  He  could  catch  but  glimpses,  so 
it  was  impossible  to  tell  whether  it  was  the  Flying  Fish  or 
not.  He  watched  her  slow  progress  to  the  westward, 
shown  by  the  white  gliding  behind  the  trees,  visible 
through  the  small  opening  of  their  foliage,  with  a  keen 
anxiety.  The  breeze  was  so  light  that  the  craft,  whatever 
she  was,  made  but  little  headway.  His  impatience  to  see 
her  clear  the  eastern  point  was,  or  seemed  to  be,  almost 
unbearable. 

The  sails  passed  on  and  on,  behind  tree  after  tree,  their 
motion  seeming  to  grow  slower  and  slower  to  the  eyes  that 
watched  it  :  but  at  last  the  vessel  stuck  her  head-booms 
out  beyond  the  extreme  end  of  the  point  against  the  clear 
horizon.  Hardly  was  her  flying-jib  in  sight  before  the 
lieutenant  sung  out  joyously,  **  The  Fish !  " 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  857 

"  De  cruiser,  sah  ?"  asked  Cato. 

"Yes,  that's  she." 

"  How  do  you  know  it  am  she  ?  "  asked  Cato. 

"  By  the  cut  of  her  jib,  of  course,"  answered  Hartley 
gayly. 

He  watched  until  he  saw  her  graceful  stem  appear,  then 
her  forward  guns,  then  her  foremast.  She  was  about  two 
miles  away.     "  Come,  Cato,  let's  go  off,"  he  said  gladly. 

The  canoe  seemed  very  light  to  Hartley,  refreshed  by 
sleep,  and  with  his  escape  assured.  They  carried  her  quickly 
down  the  opposite  slope,  launched  her,  got  in  and  paddled 
away,  Hartley  insisting  on  lending  a  hand.  Coasting  along 
the  western  shore,  they  soon  passed  the  point  and  headed 
out  so  as  to  intercept  the  ship. 

The  canoe  spun  along  famously  for  about  four  hundred 
yards  further,  when  Cato  who  had  been  casting  anxious 
glances  back,  cried,  "  Look !  look  dere.  Mass'  Henry  !  "  in 
a  terrified  voice.  Hartley  looked  and  saw  down  the  beach 
about  a  mile  to  the  east,  a  boat  with  four  oarsmen  pulling 
to  head  them  off.  "  Oh,  dey'U  ketch  us  !  dey'U  kill  us, 
Mass'  Henry  !  "  said  Cato,  in  a  terrible  fright.  Hartley's 
only  answer  was  to  direct  him  to  keep  the  boat's  head  more 
to  the  south  and  to  paddle  his  best.  By  this  plan,  though 
he  went  in  a  course  which  would  take  him  away  from  the 
ship,  he  brought  the  pirates  more  astern,  and  led  them 
directly  away  from  the  land.  His  rapid  thought  had  been  to 
make  the  chase  as  long  as  possible,  so  as  to  give  the  boat  that 
would  be  sent  to  his  rescue  from  the  sloop  every  chance  to 
overhaul  the  pirates  on  their  return,  in  case  they  succeeded 
in  overtaking  him.  He  had  perfect  confidence  in  the  good- 
ness of  the  lookout  kept  by  the  Flying  Fish,  and  was  sure 
that  he  had  been  seen  already.  Nor  was  he  mistaken,  for 
in  less  than  five  minutes  the  sloop's  head  came  to  the  wind, 
and  her  main  yard  swung  back.  With  delight  he  saw  the 
weather  boat  lowered.  "They  send  us  the  fastest  boat 
in  the  ship,  Cato  ;  we're*  all  right,"  said  he,  by  way  of  en- 
couragement.    "  Mighty  glad  to  bee-eh  it,  Mass'  Henry »;" 


S5S  LOVE  ATLOAT. 

replied  Cato,  who  was  panting  aloud,  and  perspiring 
grossly  with  his  more  than  willing  efforts. 

A  short  time  showed  the  correctness  of  Hartley^s  calcu- 
lation. The  pirates  in  the  pursuing  boat  saw  that  he  was 
decoying  them,  and  though  they  were  gaining  rapidly,  and 
could  easily  have  caught  him,  they  did  not  like  to  risk  being 
caught  in  turn.  They  turned  their  boat  and  pulled  leisurely 
back  toward  shore. 

The  officer  and  the  negro,  as  soon  as  the  pursuit  was 
abandoned,  altered  their  course  to  meet  the  coming  cutter. 

In  ten  minutes  more  she  ranged  alongside  the  canoe, 
^ith  her  oars  apeak.  The  crew  seized  the  light  boat  by  its 
gunwale  and  held  it  fast,  while  the  two  stepped  into  the 
cutter.  Larkin,  who  was  in  charge,  and  the  coxsAvain,  and 
the  men,  all  were  delighted  to  see  Hartley.  He  shook 
hands  with  Larkin,  who  stammered  his  pleasure  that  he 
had  returned.  "  Glad  you're  back  safe,  Mr.  Hartley,"  said 
the  coxswain,  rising  in  his  box  ;  and  he  suddenly  astonished 
Hartley  by  shouting,  "  Three  cheers,  boys  !  An'  a  hip, 
hip,  hurrah  !  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! "  The  hearty  ringhig  cheers 
*were  evidently  heard  in  the  ship,  for  the  rigging/  was  seen 
at  once  to  fill  with  a  swarm  of  blue-jackets.  >,- 

"Thank  you  kindly,'my  lads,"  said  Hartley .  mightily' 
touched,  and  pleased  by  this  spontaneous  token.  "  If  you 
want  to  do  anything  for  me,  treat  Cato  Johusor.  well.  He 
got  me  out  of  that  hurrah's  nest  ashore." 

"  So  we  will,  sir,"  said  the  stroke-oarsman;  uad  "  So  we 
will,"  "  Good  for  you,  Cato,"  and  such  other  expressions, 
came  from  the  rest  of  the  crew.  By  this  time  the  canoe's 
painter  was  secured,  and  she  had  been  shoved  astern.  "  Go 
back,  coxs'n,"  commanded  Larkin.  "  Let  fall !  Give  way 
together !  "  ordered  the  coxswain.  The  oars  splashed  in 
the  water  with  one  sound,  and  the  men  bent  their  broad 
backs  to  them  together,  pulling  a  magnificent  stroke  that 
took  the  boat  quickly  alongside. 

The  weather  rail  was  lined  fore  and  aft  with  eager  face^, 
everyone  looking  happy  to  see  Hartley  back.     He  went  up 


A   STORY   Ot  l-HE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  359 

the  side,  and  found  himself  received  with  more  than  royal 
honors.  Every  officer  and  man  that  could  get  on  deck  was 
there,  the  officers  crowding  up  to  meet  him,  the  men  in  a 
dense  mass  on  the  booms  and  the  rail  and  in  the  gangway. 
Saluting  as  common,  he  tried  to  make  the  usual  brief  report 
of  return  to  the  first  lieutenant ;  but  he  found  it  impossible. 
They  all  would  shake  hands  again  and  again,  some  of 
them  vociferous,  some  with  tears  in  their  eyes  to  welcome 
him  back.  He  could  not  comprehend  how  completely  they 
looked  on  him  as  one  arisen  from  the  dead.  He  did  not 
know  how  he  had  already  been  mourned  among  the  lowly 
seamen,  whose  hearts  his  skill  and  courtesy  had  won  ;  by 
the  captain,  who  had  admired  his  abilities  and  his  faithful- 
ness to  duty  ;  among  his  messmates  who  had  felt  the  loss  of 
his  genial  kindness  and  friendship,  and  had  looked  sorrow- 
ing last  night  at  his  vacant  chair  at  the  table.  And  least 
of  all  could  he  see  into  the  heart  of  Will  Garnet,  rejoicing 
to  meet  him  as  a  beloved  brother  returning  from  the  grave. 
He  did  not  know  till  afterward  that  Garnet  had  spent  the 
whole  night  on  deck,  glass  in  hand,  watching  with  de- 
spairing hope  for  some  sign  of  his  old  friend.  Certainly 
there  was  nothing  in  Garnet's  dryly  gay  words  to  show 
how  much  he  had  suffered.  "Well,  old  fellow,  back 
again  like  a  bad  sixpence,  eh  ? "  he  said,  as  he  gripped 
his  hand. 

Cato  meanwhile  stood  in  the  gangway,  alternately 
showing  his  ivory  in  a  broad  grin,  and  looking  scared. 
He  could  not  help  remembering  his  former  visit  to  th« 
ship,  and  feeling,  at  intervals,  rather  dubious  about  Mis 
present  reception.  Hartley  did  not  forget  his  faithful 
ally  and  rescuer. 

"  Captain  Merritt,"  said  he,  "  this  man,  Cato  Johnson, 
has  probably  saved  my  life.  I  couldn't  have  got  away 
without  his  help.  He  was  in  a  manner  pressed  by  the 
pirates  in  the  first  place,  and  has  been  trying  to  escape 
from  them  for  a  long  time." 

"  I  am  allowed  auother  eervant,  Mr.  H^^rtley,"  I'esponded 


^60  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

the  captain,  "and  I  think  we  can  utilize  Cato.     Cato,  how 
are  you  ?  "  said  he,  addressing  the  boy. 

"  Po'ly,  bress  de  Lor',  Mass'  Cap'n." 

"  How  would  you  like  to  come  in  the  cabin,  and  wait 


on  me 


9" 


"  Kin  I  git  back  to  Mass'  Robert  Johnson's,  on  de  Eas'u 
Sho',  Marylan',  sah,"  asked  Cato. 

"  As  soon  as  there's  a  chance  you  shall  go,"  promised 
the  captain. 

..  "  Den  de  'rangement  would  be  extrawdery  suitable,  to 
•de  bess  o'  my  judgment,  sah." 

*'  Very  well.  Mr.  McKizick,  see  that  he  is  shipped,  and 
let  the  paymaster  issue  him  some  clothing,  and  send  him 
in  to  me." 

"  Very  good,  sir." 

"  Hoist  the  boat,  and  get  the  canoe  on  deck,  and  fill 
away,  sir." 

*'  Aye,  aye,  sir.  Mr.  Briggs,  run  up  the  cutter,  and  get 
in  the  canoe,  and  fill  away,  sir." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir.  Hook  on  third  cutter  !  Lay  aft  to 
the  boat  falls  !  Main-topmen,  get  a  whip  on  the  main 
yard  ! " 

"  Mr.  Hartley,"  said  the  captain,  "  come  in  and  break- 
fast with  me  at  eight  o'clock.  Mr.  McKizick  and  Mr. 
Garnet,  may  I  have  the  pleasure  of  your  company,  also  ?  " 

^' With  pleasure,  sir." 

The  captain  went  into  his  cabin,  and  Hartley  followed 
Garnet  down  into  the  ward-room,  himself  followed  by  his 
impressed  messmates.  He  was  the  hero  of  the  hour,  and 
his  adventures  were  an  object  of  great  curiosity  ;  but  there 
were  certain  parts  of  tliem  which  he  could  not  divulge  to 
a  mess  of  irreverent  and  scoffing  bachelors.  He  knew  he 
could  not  tell  a  straightforward  story  without  preparing 
it;  and,  as  he  was  determined  not  to  bungle,  he  put  off  the 
assaults  at  once  made  upon  his  reticence,  by  declaring  it 
was  " no  great  shakes  ashore — he  was  too  tired.. to  talk-rr- 
;jjie  was  11}  a  huri:y^::-h.e..had..tQ.batho  and  ishift,  to -go  into 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.         361 

the  cabin  for  breakfast."    So  saying,  he  ran  away  laughing 
into  his  state-room  and  closed  the  door. 

A  bath  was  a  great  refreshment.  He  protracted  his 
toilet  until  he  heard  the  bell  strike  eight,  when  he  emerged, 
a  very  different  looking  man  from  the  shrunken  and 
sandy  person  who  had  come  on  board  three-quarters  of  an 
hour  before. 

Garnet  and  McKizick  were  waiting  for  him  on  the  gun- 
deck,  and  they  went  into  the  cabin  together.  They  sat 
down  at  once  to  the  table,  w^here  Hartley  distinguished 
himself  again.  Cato,  attired  in  navy  blue,  made  an  efficient 
servant.  He  had  insisted  on  beginning  his  new  duties  Tm- 
mediately. 

When  the  meal  was  over  (which  was  not  very  soon,  as 
three  of  them  protracted  their  breakfast,  to  give  Hartley's 
unappeasable  appetite  a  fair  chance),  the  captain  brought 
out  a  box  of  cigars,  and  they  lighted  up.  "  Now,  Mr. 
Hartley,  let's  know  what  you've  seen,  and  where  you've 
been,"  said  the  captain. 

Hartley  went  over  the  events  of  the  night  as  briefly  as 
possible,  laying  special  stress  upon  the  things  which  were 
of  military  importance.  When  he  came  to  give  the  reason 
for  going  up  among  the  pirates,  he  hesitated,  blushed,  and 
stopped.  "  Well,"  said  he,  stammering  in  a  very  embar- 
rassed fashion,  "  the  truth  is,  that  the  young  lady  I'm 
engaged  to  marry  was  up  there,  and  I  knew  it,  and  I  have 
been  very  anxious  about  her  ever  since  I  found  out  she  was 
in  their  hands.  I  thought  maybe  I  could  get  her  and  her 
family  away." 

"  Most  excellent  reason,  Mr.  Hartley,"  said  the  captain, 
with  a  twinkle;  "I  suspected  as  much.  Mr.  McKizick, 
rescuing  female  American  citizens  from  the  hands  of  bloody 
pirates  comes  under  the  head  of  public  service,  doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  sir,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant,  with  a  grin. 

"  But  I  don't  believe  your  messmates  would  take  that 
view  only,  if  you  should  tell  them,"  continued  the  captain, 
twinkling  broadly  with  fun. 
16 


362  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

"  Trust  me  for  that,  sir,"  said  Hartley  rapidly,  in  great 
confusion. 

"  Well,  go  on,  sir." 

He  went  on  with  his  recital,  told  of  the  disaffection  that 
existed  in  the  gang,  mentioned  its  force  as  nearly  as  he 
could,  described  the  topography  of  the  country,  pointed 
out  the  ranges  on  the  chart,  and  in  short  told  nearly  every- 
thing but  what  had  passed  between  Mary  and  himself. 
He  dwelt  very  lightly  on  his  hidings  and  creepings — they 
hurt  his  pride  yet.  "  I  then  took  up  a  position  in  the  rear 
of  Hackett's  house,"  was  his  manner  of  phrasing  it^ — and 
he  forgot  to  mention  what  he  had  heard  about  the  buried 
money.  Before  he  left  the  cabin,  he  remembered  it,  but 
the  almost  irresistible  repugnance  which  lies  in  every  man's 
breast,  to  sharing  such  knowledge,  sealed  his  mouth.  He 
felt  that  the  treasure  was  his  by  the  right  of  discovery, 
that  no  one  else  could  have  any  claim  to  know  or  divide. 
How  strange  is  the  power  which  "  hid  treasure  "of  all 
kinds  has  always  had  over  man's  mind  !  It  is  more  than, 
and  different  from,  the  common  vulgar  power  of  lucre.  Per- 
haps its  part  of  secrecy  and  mystery  is  what  enslaves  us. 

When  Hartley  had  finished,  there  was  silence  for  awhile. 
He  had  so  completely  given  his  knowledge  that  no  one  had 
any  questions  to  ask.  Presently  the  captain  requested 
McKizick's  opinion  as  to  the  best  course  of  action  to  follow. 
He  was  strong  for  sending  in  a  boat  party  immediately  by 
way  of  the  Cobre.  Hartley  agreed  with  him  cordially. 
Garnet,  on  being  asked,  agreed,  except  as  to  time  :  he 
thought  it  would  be  better  to  wait  till  night.  "  Well, 
gentlemen,"  said  the  captain,  rising  to  break  up  the  sitting, 
"  I  think  much  as  you  do.  We  had  better  wait  till  night, 
however.  Mr.  McKizick,  let  it  be  known  in  the  ship,  if  you 
please.  You  and  Mr.  Hartley  and  Mr.  Briggs  are  to  go 
again,  and  let  Mr.  Larkin  take  the  doctor,  with  an  armed 
party  in  the  gig,  in  addition.  Mr.  Hartley,  get  the  doctor 
to  excuse  you  from  duty  ;  you  must  have  some  sleep  and 
rest."    They  left  the  cabin  and  went  below. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  363 

Hartley  turned  into  his  bunk,  and  Garnet  came  in  and 
sat  with  him,  to  hear  the  parts  of  the  story  his  friend  had 
thought  best  to  omit  in  the  cabin.  Garnet  was  greatly 
interested,  almost  nervous,  in  listening  to  the  story  of  the 
attack  of  the  mates  on  Mary  and  Isabel ;  though  Hartley 
remembered  his  promise,  and  said  nothing  about  the  actual 
personal  contact  with  Markley,  which  had  so  terribly  cut 
Isabel's  pride.  The  anxiety  passed  into  thoughtfulness, 
when  Garnet  heard  of  Hartley's  intervention,  and  Isabel's 
escape. 

One  thing  was  not  mentioned  between  the  friends — the 
treasure.  It  would  have  been  a  pleasure  to  Hartley  to 
share  the  secret  with  his  friend  ;  but  a  thought  had  occurred 
that  kept  htm  silent  for  his  friend's  sake. 

As  Hartley's  speech  became  rather  languid  after  awhile, 
the  careful  listener  told  him  to  stop  talking  and  go  to  sleep. 
The  command  was  soon  obeyed.  After  his  deep  regular 
breathing  showed  him  to  be  in  the  land  of  Morpheus,  Gar- 
net sat  long,  watching  him  with  something  like  a  maternal 
satisfaction.  The  joy  he  felt  was  none  the  less  deep 
because  his  quiet  nature  allowed  him  no  expression.  It 
was  strange  that  his  mind  should  then  find  another  subject 
still  more  fascinating. 

Hartley  awoke  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  found  the 
ship  still  standing  off  and  on.  Preparations  were  making 
among  the  boats'  crews  for  the  expected  expedition.  Men 
were  getting  the  yard  and  stay  tackles  ready,  grinding 
cutlasses,  getting  up  whips,  bringing  up  weapons  and  boat 
anchors,  examining  oars  and  tackles,  and  doing  all  they 
could  at  the  moment  to  be  in  readiness.  He  noticed  an 
unusual  and  severe  quietness  in  all  their  looks  and  actions, 
an  absence  of  the  jovial  hilarity  usually  prevailing  on  such 
occasions.  He  could  not  understand  it,  until  he  learned 
that  while  he  slept,  the  burial  service  for  the  dead  at  sea 
had  been  performed,  and  the  bodies  of  seven  brave  men, 
victims  in  the  unfortunate  attack  of  the  preceding  day,  had 
been  committed   to   the  deep.     This  explained  the  stern 


364  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

silence,  and  the  resolution  apparent  in  the  faces  of  their 
surviving  shipmates. 

The  captain  waited  until  the  hour  between  daylight  and 
full  moonlight,  the  time  of  dusk  and  the  greatest  obscurity.; 
and  then,  the  ship  being  off  the  river,  ran  up  far  enough  to 
be  screened  between  the  points,  and  there  cast  anchor. 

The  preparations  for  the  expedition  to  leave  the  ship 
began  at  once,  and  went  on  in  a  marvellous  silence.  The 
heavy  yard  purchases,  and  the  stays,  hooked  to  the  triatic, 
were  swayed  quietly  aloft  into  place,  the  yards  were  braced 
and  secured,  and  soon  the  boom  boats  were  out  of  the 
chocks  and  lying  in  the  water  alongside  the  ship.  With- 
out delay,  they  were  armed,  equipped,  and  manned ;  and 
they  left  the  ship  in  line,  with  Hartley  leading  as  before. 
The  fresh  and  willing  men  propelled  them  against  the  cur- 
rent at  a  good  speed.  Keeping  in  the  shadow  of  the  tree- 
lined  western  shore,  and  pulling  muffled  oars,  they  ascended 
the  stream  almost  noiselessly.  When  opposite  the  little 
creek  down  which  he  had  escaped,  and  which  he  recognized 
without  difficulty.  Hartley  diverged  from  the  previous 
course,  and  pulled  straight  across  the  stream,  followed  by 
the  other  boats.  They  entered  the  creek  one  after  another, 
and  ascended  it  a  little  way  without  incident  or  stoppage, 
though  it  was  so  narrow  that  the  oars  nearly  touched  the 
shore  on  either  hand.  Just  above  the  leaning  tree  Hartley 
beaghed  his  boat,  the  others  following,  and  doing  the  same. 

The  crews  landed,  boat-keepers  received  their  instruc- 
tions, and  word  was  quietly  passed  by  the  officers  among 
the  men  to  preserve  perfect  silence,  follow  their  leader,  and 
keep  their  arms  sheathed.  Hartley  showed  the  way  up  the 
steep  bank,  the  men  scrambled  up  nimbly,  and  in  a  minute 
more  the  whole  force  was  moving  in  a  long  serpentine  single 
file  along  the  path  toward  the  glen. 

Hartley  was  at  the  head  of  the  column,  with  McKizick 
just  behind  him,  Larkin  in  the  middle,  Briggs  and  the 
doctor  bringing  up  the  rear. 

The  line  undulated  along  in  the  winding  pathway,  pass- 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  365 

ing  through  the  shadows  and  across  the  patches  of  moonlight 
with  a  gentle  brushing  sound  of  footsteps,  and  without  a 
word  spoken.  When  they  reached  the  point  at  which  the 
path  forked,  Hartley  whispered  to  McKizick  that  it  would 
be  well  to  leave  men  there  to  watch,  McKizick  stopped, 
the  man  next  behind  closed  up  until  he  could  go  no  further, 
and  so  it  went  along  the  column  till  all  had  halted  without 
a  word  of  command  being  given,  and  the  line  had  con- 
tracted to  one-third  of  its  former  length.  Then  Larkin  was 
detailed,  with  three  men,  and  instructions  to  hide  just  in 
front  of  the  forks  on  both  sides  of  the  path,  and  to  be  pre- 
pared to  stop  any  runaway  pirates  who  might  try  to  pass 
that  way  in  escaping.  This  done,  McKizick  whispered, 
"  Go  ahead  !  "  to  Hartley,  and  the  column  again  lengthened 
as  the  men  one  by  one  resumed  the  march. 

No  further  incident  occurred  until  they  were  close  upon 
the  glen.  The  men  were  again  halted ;  the  three  officers 
consulted  together,  and  word  was  passed  along  how  to  act. 
The  four  men  in  the  rear  were  to  stop  with  the  doctor  and 
and  guard  the  head  of  the  stairs.  The  others  were  to  go 
quietly  and  rapidly  down,  those  first  reaching  the  bottom 
to  wait  for  the  rest,  and  for  further  orders. 

As  it  was  planned,  so  it  was  executed.  The  men  ad- 
vancing again,  very  hurriedly  now,  soon  choked  up  the 
stairs  in  their  efforts  to  get  down  first ;  and,  as  each  one 
emerged  from  the  lower  opening,  he  was  quickly  put  into 
a  group  forming  by  Hartley  and  McKizick. 

But,  while  they  had  been  moving  along  the  edge  of  the 
bluff  toward  the  stairway.  Hartley  had  been  struck  by  the 
stillness  of  the  amphitheatre  below.  No  sound  of  voices 
reached  him,  and  there  was  no  fire  to  be  seen  in  the  usual 
place.  Mistrusting  this  quietude,  and  fearing  that  the 
pirates  had  seen  the  movements  of  the  ship,  and  were  lying 
in  ambush  prepared  to  give  them  a  hot  reception,  he  said 
nothing  but  watched  all  the  more  closely. 

When  half  the  men  were  down,  McKizick,  impatient  of 
delay,  spoke  aloud,  "Show  the  way,  Hartley!"    Then, 


366  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

drawing  his  sword  he  waved  it  in  the  moonlight,  cry- 
ing, "  Come  on,  my  lads  !  Revenge  your  messmates  !  " 
and  sprang  after  Hartley,  who  was  already  running  to- 
ward Hackett's  house.  The  men  followed  close  after, 
shouting. 

Hartley  fully  expected  to  be  greeted  by  a  volley  as  he 
turned  the  corner.  At  the  cool  repellent  quiet  he  met,  he 
paused,  more  checked  than  he  would  have  been  by  an 
enemy.  The  men  following  stopped  also  in  astonishment, 
and  the  shouts  died  on  their  lips.  For  a  moment  there  was 
a  silence,  broken  only  by  the  panting  of  those  who  had 
been  last  to  get  down  the  stairs,  and  w^ho  joined  the  party 
singly  and  breathless. 

"  What  does  this  mean,  Hartley  ?  "  asked  McKizick,  in 
a  bewildered,  helpless  voice,  at  length. 

"  I  don't  know,  unless  there's  some  devilish  trap  about , 
it,  sir,"  replied  he.     "  Let's  look  around  the  houses." 

"  Lead  on." 

Hartley  wxnt  first  instinctively  to  the  door  of  the 
buildinor  in  which  he  knew  the  Dewhursts  had  been  lodored. 
It  stood  open,  and  he  entered  it  with  McKizick,  the  men 
waiting  outside,  and  beginning  to  talk  wonderingly.  The 
light  entered  the  windows  enough  to  show  them  that  the 
house  still  contained  its  furniture,  and  seemed  to  have 
been  lately  occupied.  The  beds  w^ere  made  up,  the  chairs 
stood  about,  and  the  three  trunks  sat  against  the  wall. 
Hartley  stood  confounded,  staring  about  him  with  pei*- 
plexity,  and  feeling  as  if  he  had  lost  something  valuable. 
He  was  thinking  of  Mary. 

"  Come,  let's  look  on  farther,"  said  McKizick,  going 
out.     "  Keep  together,  men  !  "  he  ordered. 

They  walked  along  the  semicircle  and  looked  into 
several  of  the  houses,  but  nothing  rewarded  the  search 
except  the  discovery  that  all  the  buildings  seemed  to  have 
been  lately  occupied.  The  wind  sighed  softly  among  the 
branches  of  their  leafy  roofs,  the  limbs  swayed  gently,  the 
little  stream  gurgled  and  flashed  in  the  moon,  which  looked 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        367 

down  with  steady  goldenness.  But  no  sight  or  sound  of 
man's  making  met  their  eyes  or  ears. 

Suddenly  an  idea  struck  Hartley.  "McKizick,"  said 
he  excitedly,  "keep  the  men  in  the  middle — don't  let  them 
touch  a  thing — I'll  be  back  presently.  This  way,  third 
cutter's  I "  His  boat's  crew  leaped  forward  to  obey  him,  and 
followed  him  in  single  file  as  ,he  ran  toward  the  under- 
growth at  the  point  where  the  stream  left  the  glen. 
Unquestioningly  they  dashed  into  its  shallow  waters,  and 
before  McKizick  could  recover  himself  enough  to  ask  a 
a  question,  they  were  all  out  of  sight  among  the  bushes 
that  lined  its  winding  bed.  Hartley  was  down  the  stream 
in  two  minutes.  Dashing  through  the  shallow  waters  over 
the  hard  sand  bottom  at  its  mouth,  he  stopped  and  threw  a 
hasty  glance  around  the  Haven.  It  was  empty — La  Hem- 
brilla  was  gone  ! 

The  men  were  coming  up  rapidly  ;  but  without  waiting 
for  them  to  arrive,  Hartley  darted  off  afresh  along  the 
firm  southern  beach,  shouting,  "  This  way,  lads  !  "  Two 
or  three  of  the  foremost  caught  up  with  him,  and  together 
they  dashed  over  the  sandy  curve,  followed  closely  by  the 
rest.  They  reached  the  promontory,  turned  it,  and  ran 
along  the  western  shore  of  the  entrance,  with  which  some 
of  them  were  sadly  familiar.  Under  the  bending  branches, 
under  swaying  palm  tops,  in  the  shade  of  the.  cliff  they 
raced  along.  They  reached  the  edge  of  the  low  surf, 
which  rolled  gently  in,  with  a  lazy  want  of  sympathy  with 
their  haste.  They  paused  and  gazed.  There  to  seaward 
■ — not  a  mile  away — with  every  sail  set  in  the  light  breeze, 
standing  to  the  southeast — there  was  the  vessel  they 
had  so  long  and  vainly  sought.  The  schooner  had  again 
eluded  them.  '^ 

Hartley  did  not  need  any  time  to  consider,  but  turning 
instantly,  he  called,  "  Come  back  ! "  and  started  away  as 
fast  as  he  had  come.  In  ten  minutes  from  the  time  he  so 
unceremoniously  left,  he  rejoined  the  first  lieutenant ;  and 
his  men  had  all  returned  before  he  had  told  the  news. 


303  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

"  The  d — d  scoundrels  !  "  growled  McKizick,  in  a  voice 
that  showed  how  much  he  thought  himself  injured.  "  What 
a  trick  !  There's  only  one  thing  to  be  done,  Hartley,  and 
that's  to  get  back  the  way  we  come,  and  quick,  too.  Come 
along,  men  !  "  he  shouted. 

The  seamen  obeyed,  sheathing  their  drawn  weapons  ; 
and  sooji  all  were  up  the  cleft,  in  column  on  the  high  land 
above.  "  Now  run  !  "  shouted  McKizick.  Off  they  started, 
pell-mell. 

By  the  time  they  reached  the  forks,  the  whole  party 
was  out  of  breath,  and  going  along  panting  at  a  rapid  walk. 
The  apparition  of  the  party  left  behind  at  that  place,  rising 
and  coming  forward  from  their  luding-places,  gave  McKiz- 
ick, who  was  in  the  lead,  a  violent  start.  He  had  forgot- 
ten them.     Larkin  reported,  "Got  a  prisoner,  sir." 

"  Prisoner,  eh  ?  Take  care  the  d — d  scoundrel  does'nt 
get  away,  and  fetch  him  along  as  fast  as  you  can.  Put  him 
between  two  and  trot  him,  d — n  him  !  "  growled  the 
irritated  officer. 

They  reached  the  boats,  shoved  them  off,  and  tumbled 
in  promiscuously.  "  A  race  for  the  ship  !  "  shouted  McKiz- 
ick. After  some  confusion  and  collisions  caused  by  haste 
in  the  narrow  creek,  the  boats  gained  the  clear  water  of  the 
river,  and  a  race  it  was.  The  strong  rowers  soon  took 
them  down  the  swift  current  to  the  ship. 

McKizick  gained  the  deck,  and  found  the  captain  wait- 
ing for  the  news.  Briefly  he  reported  their  ill-luck  and 
Hartley's  discovery ;  and  instantly  he  received  the  order 
to  get  in  the  boats  and  get  the  anchor. 

In  a  short  time,  and  with  the  precision  that  obtains  only 
in  a  well-drilled  man-of-war,  the  boats  were  stowed,  the 
anchor  was  up,  sail  was  made,  and  the  ship  ^vas  running 
down  the  river.  But  though  the  time  was  relatively 
short,  it  was  all  too  long.  When  the  Fish  cleared  the 
point,  the  closest  scanning  of  the  horizon  by  the  best  eye 
revealed  no  trace  of  a  sail. 


A  STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  369 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 

AT  one  o'clock,  when  the  man  Antonio  was  relieved, 
Hartley's  absence  was  discovered,  and  reported  to 
Hackett  without  delay. 

The  captain  hastened  to  the  room  in  which  the  prisoner 
had  been  confined  ;  and  the  first  thing  he  did  was  to  feel 
with  his  hand  if  the  chair  yet  retained  any  warmth  from 
Hartley's  body.  It  was  quite  cold,  an  assurance  that  -  his 
flight  had  not  been  very  recent.  Questioning  Antonio,  in 
whom  he  had  perfect  confidence,  he  found  that  Hartley  had 
certainly  been  there  half  an  hour  before.  He  stopped  the 
relief  guard,  just  on  the  point  of  setting  out  for  the  bluffs  by 
the  Haven,  and  detailed  them  in  squads  to  search  in  differ- 
ent directions.  He  did  not  despair  of  catching  Hartley, 
and  would  not  omit  any  means  of  doing  so,  so  great  an 
importance  did  the  ex-prisoner  suddenly  assume  in  his 
eye^  by  decamping  with  exact  knowledge  of  the  quarters 
and  the  band. 

One  small  party  he  sent  to  seize  the  canoe,  and  watch 
the  point  near  by  ;  another  was  to  patrol  the  shore  of  the 
river  ;  another  was  sent  to  follow  the  north  shore  of 
the  Haven  around  to  the  sea,  and  push  the  search  in  that 
direction  ;  another  was  detailed  to  follow  up  the  right-hand 
fork  of  the  wood  path  ;  and  several  messengers  were  de- 
spatched to  carry  the  news  to  piratical  haunts,  and  to  vil- 
lages near  by. 

Orders  were  sent  to  Big  Ben  to  man  the  boats  of  La 
Hembrilla,  and  go  outside  and  watch  the  beach;  while  the 
remainder  of  his  party,  except  a  bare  lookout,  were  to  re- 
turn to  the  quarters.  As  each  party  set  off,  it  was  cautioned 
to  spread  its  force  and  to  hunt  silently,  so  as  not  to  alarm 
the  refugee  ;  and  when  the  rest  of  Markley's  watch  came 
back  to  the  quarters,  they  w^ere  set  to  hunting  over  the 
i6* 


3T0  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

glen  itself  with  torches,  so  that  if  Hartley  were  hiding 
there  he  might  not  be  overlooked. 

All  this  while,  Hackett  had  not  missed  Cato.  He  knew 
that  the  prisoner's  fastenings  had  been  cut,  and  supposed 
that  some  one  in  the  gang  had  been  bribed  to  do  it  ;  but 
his  suspicions  had  not  rested  on  any  one  man.  Cato  had 
been  so  submissive  and  useful  since  his  return  from  his 
escapade  down  the  coast  that  no  thought  of  him  at  first 
presented  itself.  But  when  the  party  who  went  to  seize 
the  canoe  sent  back  word  that  it  was  gone,  Hackett  at 
once  recalled  Cato's  former  dissatisfaction.  Inquiry  failed 
to  produce  him  ;  no  one  had  seen  him  for  some  time,  and 
he  was  not  in  the  hut.  Hackett,  like  a  sensible  man,  called 
in  his  beaters,  which  was  easily  done  by  signals  in  common 
use  among  the  men,  and  gave  up  the  attempt  for  the  night. 
But  he  had  two  boats  remain  outside,  with  orders  to  keep  a 
very  bright  lookout  about  dawn.  We  have  seen  how 
Hartley  escaped,  in  spite  of  this  last  precaution. 

The  pirate  leader  felt  very  uneasy.  Just  as  he  thought 
himself  secure  from  the  outside  enemy,  and  safe  in  his  secret 
plan  of  forestalling  the  bloodthirsty  and  disaffected  band 
by  flight,  a  single  false  move  had  altered  the  appearance 
of  the  game  much  for  the  worse.  To  his  reflecting  mind 
that  move  had  been  to  blow  out  the  candle  in  Hartley's  room, 
and  perhaps  he  was  right.  Now  the  outlook  was  bad. 
One  of  the  enemy's  oflicers  had  been  in  the  glen  and  had 
seen — ^he  was  disposed  to  think — everything.  That  oflUcer 
had  communicated  with  prisoners,  and  then,  guided  by  a 
keen  negro  who  was  perfectly  familiar  with  the  details  of 
the  place,  had  made  his  escape  by  a  route  that  laid  open 
its  weakest  point.  Hackett  felt  that  his  security  on  shore 
was  immensely  lessened,  and  his  retreat  by  water  indefi- 
nitely postponed.  He  lay  awake  all  the  rest  of  the  night 
pondering. 

By  morning  he  had  decided.  On  the  certainty  in  his 
mind  that  the  cruiser  would  soon  send  a  party  up  the 
river,  he  based  his  plans  and  proceeded  to  give  his  orders. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  371 

The  right-hand  fork  of  the  wood-path  led  up  in  the 
country  to  the  roads,  and  was  the  usual  means  of  commu- 
nicating with  the  towns.  About  a  mile  beyond  the  fork 
was  a  rude  bridge  across  the  creek  in  which  Hartley  had 
found  the  canoe,  the  stream  up  there  being  reduced  to  a 
mere  brook ;  and  near  the  bridge  was  a  spring  of  fresh 
water  and  an  ancient  uninhabited  building. 

Hackett,  keeping  a  sharp  lookout  on  the  Flying  Fish, 
had  the  women  leave  the  quarters  immediately  after  an 
early  breakfast,  and  take  up  their  line  of  march  for  the 
bridge,  bearing  with  them  as  many  cooking  utensils  as 
they  could  carry,  and  taking  their  children..  Having  dis- 
posed of  these  impediments,  he  divided  the  men  into  two 
parties.  One,  composed  of  ten  men  whom  he  knew  to  be 
faithful  to  himself,  he  sent  to  the  schooner,  with  orders  to 
get  her  ready  to  go  to  sea  at  any  minute ;  the  other  con- 
tained all  the  rest  of  the  gang,  which  he  put  under  Arrow- 
son's  command. 

The  orders  the  mate  received,  were  to  move  enough 
provisions  to  the  bridge  to  last  for  several  days,  together 
with  bedding  and  other  necessaries ;  to  make  a  camp  by  the 
spring;  to  be  very  vigilant  in  guarding  the  prisoners  ;  and 
to  remain  in  the  new  locality  until  further  instructions. 
Hackett  explained  to  Arrowson  whence  he  expected  the 
the  attack,  and  that  he  did  not  think  the  band  strong 
enough  to  resist  it  successfully.  Besides,  though  he  did 
not  say  so,  it  was  a  kind  of  fighting  in  which  there  was  no 
profit,  and  to  which  he  did  not  believe  his  men  adapted. 
No  one  knew  better  than  he  that  they  were  cowardly  as 
well  as  ferocious,  and  that  they  would  not  sustain  a  fair 
open  combat  against  equal  numbers. 

He  explained  that  he  was  getting  La  Hembrilla  ready 
to  take  her  to  sea,  and  save  her  from  the  certain  destruction 
that  would  follow  if  the  United  States  forces  found  her 
moored  in  the  Hole.  ' 

He  urged  strongly  upon  Arrowson  to  keep  a  lookout 
posted  in  the  high  trees  over  the  glen,  beside  ^  sentry  at 


372  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

the  fork  of  the  roads,  one  on  the  cliffs,  and  one  at  the 
mouth  of  the  creek.  This  would  insure  his  keeping  prop- 
erly informed  of  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

Finally  he  adjured  the  mate  to  care  for  the  comfort  of 
the  Dewhurst  family,  and  of  Catarina,  whom  he  left  as  an 
especial  trust.     Arrowson  listened  and  assented  to  all. 

Not  without  many  misgivings  had  Hackett  resolved  to 
pursue  this  course.  Utterly  suspicious  and  mistrustful  of  ' 
Arrowson,  and  believing  that  he  had  tampered  with  the 
fidelity  of  many  of  the  gang,  he  dreaded  putting  Catarina 
in  his  power,  and  was  loath  to  leave  Mary  and  Isabel,  in 
whom  he  had  taken  a  curious  interest,  to  his  tender  mercies. 
So  strong  was  his  dislike,  that  he  took  the  fir^t  occasion  to 
speak  privately  to  Mr.  Dewhurst,  warning  him  to  take  care 
of  the  girls  ;  and  he  fully  explained  the  gravity  of  their 
situation  to  Catarina,  that  she  might  enlist  in  their  favor 
the  moral  forces  which  women  everywhere  use  against  men. 
Catarina  spoke  to  Juliette,  Arrowson's  quasi  wife. 

Hackett  would  have  been  glad  to  put  the  prisoners  and 
Catarina  on  board  the  schooner  and  to  sail  at  once  from  the 
scenes  of  brutality  and  danger  of  which  he  was  tired  ;  but 
the  two  men  whom  he  had  sent  to  rebury  the  treasure  had 
not  yet  returned.  He  feared  to  leave  them,  lest,  making  an 
easy  excuse  of  abandonment,  they  should  appropriate  the 
hoard.  His  cupidity  would  not  permit  any  step  to  risk  the 
dear-bought  gold. 

He  hoped  that  the  great  confidence  he  was  showing  in 
Arrowson,  and  the  command  he  was  giving  him,  would  put 
the  rascal  in  a  good  humor,  blipd  him,  and  serve  to  delay 
an  open  outbreak.  He  deceived  himself.  Arrowson,  who 
had  a  very  correct  idea  of  his  chiefs  character  and  methods, 
was  not  to  be  so  easily  hoodwinked  ;  and  the  disaftection 
and  treachery  in  the  gang  were  far  greater  than  Hackett 
imagined.  Already  it  was  an  understood  thing  among 
many  that  the  captain  and  his  friends  were  to  be  slain  on 
the  first  opportunity.  The  pirates  were  weary  of  his  dis- 
cipline, tljey  longed  for  greater  license,  they  wished  to 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  373 

divide  their  gains  among  fewer,  and  they  were  now  greedily 
jealous  of  the  money  their  leader  made  by  purchasing  from 
them  individual  shares  of  spoil. 

In  the  morning  the  Dewhurst  family  found  out  from  the 
attendant  who  took  Cato's  place  that  Hartley  had  escaped. 
Their  joy  was  great  at  this  ;  and  though  Mr.  Dewhurst  was 
at  first  inclined  to  grumble  because  he  had  gone  without 
taking  them,  he  soon  agreed  with  the  girls  that  Hartley  had 
done  very  well ;  and  he  began  to  look  for  the  blue-jackets 
with  whom  he  expected  the  young  lieutenant  to  return 
immediately. 

Poor  Mrs.  Dewhurst's  dismay,  wonder,  and  delight,  at 
learning  for  the  first  time  that  Hartley  had  been  a  prisoner, 
had  met  and  talked  with  her  daughter,  and  had  escaped 
so  easily  and  mysteriously,  was  funny  to  both  girls,  who 
felt  very  light-hearted.  Their  gayety  changed  into  appre- 
hension when  they  learned  they  were  to  move  their  quar- 
ters, and  saw  the  gravity  of  Mr.  Dewhurst's  face. 

Hackett  watched  a  chance  when  the  Fish  was  standing 
across  the  easterly  stretch  of  her  blockade,  and  escorted 
the  Dewhurst  family  and  Catarina  over  to  the  bridge.  He 
could  ill  be  spared  from  the  glen,  and  he  was  anxious  at 
leaving  when  the  sloop  might  at  any  moment  send  in  her 
boats  to  a  fresh  attack  ;  but  he  was  pretty  sure  she  would 
wait  till  dark,  and  he  was  very  anxious  to  go. 

The  way  was  a  lovely  path,  winding  over  rolling  ground, 
amid  a  luxuriant  tropical  vegetation  ;  but  the  novelty  and 
richness  of  the  scenes  through  which  they  passed  were 
lost  upon  the  strangers.  Their  minds  were  too  much 
engrossed  with  foreboding  care  to  enjoy,  or  hardly  to 
notice. 

As  they  walked  along,  Hackett  signed  to  Mr.  Dewhurst 
to  let  the  ladies  precede  them,  and  soon  after,  taking 
advantage  of  a  curve  in  the  path  which  hid  them  from 
the  advance  of  the  party,  he  stopped  suddenly.  *'  See  here," 
he  said,  with  averted  eyes  and  uneasy  face,  "I  can't  take 
you  along,  and  I  can't  bring  myself  to  like  the  idear  o' 


874  LOYE  AFLOAT* 

leavin'  you.  Take  these."  "  These  "  were  a  pair  of  short, 
double-barrelled  pistols.  "Hide  'em,"  said  Hackett. 
"  They're  loaded.  Here's  some  ammunition.  Keep  your 
eyes  open — watch  Arrowson.  If  you  get  a  good  chance  to 
go  the  cruiser,  go!  and  I  wish  you'd  take  my  wife  with 
you  if  you  go." 

Mr.  Dewhurst,  surprised  as  he  was  at  this  fresh  proof  of 
what  seemed  goodness  in  a  man  so  bad,  did  not  ask  any 
questions,  but  hastily  put  the  weapons  out  of  sight.  He 
was  a  good  enough  judge  of  men  to  know  from  what  he  had 
seen  that  queries  were  useless.  Hackett  would  speak  if  he 
had  anything  more  to  say.  Surprise  was  followed  by  in- 
creased dread  of  the  future,  as  the  ominous  meaning  of 
Hackett's  gift  and  words  came  into  his  mind. 

Every  now  and  then  they  met  little  parties  of  the  pirates 
going  back  to  the  quarters  for  another  load  of  provisions, 
after  having  ..deposited  those  which  they  had  brought. 
Their  broad  hats,  high  boots,  gaudy  shirts,  and  colored 
sashes  stuck  full  of  knives  and  pistols,  formed  dashing  gay 
costumes  which  made  the  freebooters  seem  in  unison. with 
the  rich  careless  nature  about  them.  Even  their  lazy  stroll, 
as  they  puffed  their  cigarette  smoke  in  blue  wreathings  on 
the  warm  still  air,  seemed  to  accord  with  the  tropical  calm 
of  the  woods.  In  one  of  these  parties  Hackett  saw  a 
Spaniard,  whom  hfe  summoned  by  the  name  of  Pedro,  and 
bade  to  follow  them. 

They  had  not  been  loitering  in  their  walk,  and  now  they 
were  approaching  the  bridge.  It  was  a  charming  view  that 
met  them  there.  There  was  a  space  clear  of  undergrowth 
of  perhaps  forty  yards  in  diameter,  a  circle  with  the  bridge 
for  its  centre,  and  divided  into  irregular  halves  by  the  stream. 
Large  trees  grew  about,  affording  a  perfect  shade  and  a 
place  to  swing  hammocks.  A  little  spring  ran  out  from 
under  a  mass  of  gray  rock  on  the  further  side  of  the  brook, 
with  which  it  speedily  mingled  its  waters.  On  the  side 
they  stood  upon,  off  to  the  right  of  the  bridge  and  opposite 
the  spring,  was  an  old  house  with  two  rooms,  which  showed 


A  STORY   OF  THE  AMERICAN   NAVY.  375 

the  marks  of  age  in  its  decaying  and  tumble-down  condi- 
tion. Grasses  waved  from  its  sagging  roof,  and  plants 
grew  up  between  the  planks  of  its  porch-floor.  The  bridge 
itself  was  rude  but  picturesque,  one  of  its  heavy  rustic  rails 
being  entirely  hidden  from  sight  under  a  thick  cover  of 
flowering  vines,  whose  long  arms  hung  swaying  down  to- 
ward the  water.  To  give  life  to  the  scene,  the  pirates' 
women  were  moving  about  lithely  in  their  brilliant  colors, 
busy  at  slinging  hammocks,  spreading  cooking  utensils  out 
on  the  ground,  gathering  sticks  for  fuel,  and  other  of  their 
new  domestic  duties.  Their  children  were  wading  in  the 
brook,  splashing  the  water,  and  swearing  in  soft  Spanish  as 
each  pretty  new  stone  or  shell  was  found. 

Hackett  led  the  pa;*ty  to  the  house.  "  This  is  your  room 
— altogether,"  said  he.  '*  Make  yourselves  to  hum.  Mates 
have  the  other  room.  Your  things  '11  be  over.  Pedro  '11 
tend  to  you  if  you.  want  anything  before  your  boy  comes. 
Good-by.  Take  good  care  of  yourself,  Miss  Mary,  and  you, 
too.  Miss  Bell.  Mornin',  ma'am.  A  Dios,  Catarina."  So 
saying,  he  kissed  the  girl  and  went  away,  leaving  her  in 
tears.  » 

All  that  day  the  men  kept  coming  into  the  new  camp 
w^th  little  loads  of  provisions.  They  would  drop  their 
burdens  with  a  worn-out  air,  and  then  sit  down  to  rest, 
smoke,  gabble,  and  trifle  away  the  time.  The  consequence 
of  this  indolent  manner  of  working,  was  that  at  night  the 
pile  of  provisions  on  the  porch  of  the  old  house  was  ridicu- 
lously smp,ll,  while  as  for  bedding  and  other  necessaries, 
there  was  almost  none.  The  Dewhursts  and  Catarina 
reposed  that  night  in  their  clothing,  all  on  one  soiled  quilt 
spread  out  on  the  floor. 

Through  the  day  the  girls  had  a  great  deal  of  talk  with 
Catarina,  who  was  at  once  an  object  of  pity  and  admiration 
and  a  distraction  for  them.  Her  timidity  was  attractive,  like 
that  of  a  gentle  fawn  one  might  find  alone  among  wild  woods. 
When  her  confidence  was  gained,  she  talked  a  great  deal  to 
them  in  her  broken  English.    Mrs.  Dewhurst,  who  saw  her 


376  LOVE   AFtOAT. 

**  condition,"  objected  very  strongly  to  the  growing  in- 
timacy, but  the  girls  took  their  own  way.  They  seemed  to 
feel  that  mother  and  Aunt  Susan  was  so  much  out  of  her 
sphere  that  her  judgment  was  not  very  valuable;  and  this 
was  true.  Mrs.  Dewhurst's  life  had  been  one  thing  always, 
and  the  annoyances,  dangers  and  apprehensions  to  which 
to  which  she  had  been  subjected  had  almost  broken  her 
down.  Used  to  run  in  the  good  deep  old  ruts  of  convention 
so  long,  her  stiffened  mind  was  terribly  shaken  by  the 
great  jolt  that  sent  it  so  far  out  of  its  accustomed  track. 
The  girls  being  young,  elastic,  and  full  of  rebound,  were 
able  to  bear  the  changes  better.  They  liked  the  naive 
child-woman's  ways,  and  before  the  day  was  over  they 
liked  her. 

Hackett  kept  a  good  lookout  on  the  motions  of  the  sloop. 
By  sending  a  man  into  the  top  of  a  lofty  tree,  he  was  con- 
stantly informed  of  her  situation.  Consequently,  he  knew 
as  soon  as  the  Fish  entered  the  river,  and  he  lost  no  time  in 
getting  the  last  party  away  with  a  final  load  of  provisions. 
He  sent  word  to  Arrowson  to  observe  the  motions  of  the 
expedition,  which  he  was  confident  woujd  soon  be  on  shore  ; 
and  he  ordered  the  man  who  stayed  behind  to  light  the 
range  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  visitors.  Arrowson,  in  Ijis 
pride  and  conscious  power,  paid  no  attention  to  the  message 
he  received;  and  we  have  seen  how  the  sentry  left  by 
Hackett  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  seamen  as  he  was  hurry- 
ing to  inform  the  mate  of  their  presence. 

But  the  chief  knew  nothing  of  this,  because  be  had  not 
waited  to  run  any  risks,  but,  while  the  sloop  lay  up  the 
river  where  she  could  not  see  outside,  had  swept  the 
schooner  out  of  the  Hole,  made  sail,  and  stood  out  to  the 
light  breeze  setting  from  the  northwest.  He  first  ran  to  the 
southeast,  because  that  course  would  probably  prevent  him 
from  being  espied  by  the  cruiser,  and  because  he  thought 
that  if  she  should  see  him  she  would  be  deceived  as  to  his 
intentions.  He  meant  to  run  out  of  sight  in  that  direction, 
and  then  stand  to  the  southward  to  Tsla  Bella,  where  he 


A  STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  377 

would  wait  a  few  days.  He  expected  that  the  quarters 
would  be  burned,  and  hoped  that  the  sloop,  after  doing  that, 
would  leave  him  a  clear  coast,  and  the  chance  he  longed  for 
of  deserting  his  gang  with  the  schooner. 


CHAPTER    XXVHI. 


THE  Flying  Fish  was  put  before  the  wind,  head  southeast, 
and  all  the  studding-sails  set.  With  her  long  booms  pro- 
jecting far  out  over  the  water  and  holding  the  great  sails 
by  a  hardly  visible  support,  she  seemed  like  a  splendid 
aquatic  bird  with  wings,  milky-white  in  the  moon,  extended 
to  catch  the  breeze.  '  ; 

But  after  the  first  half  hour,  twenty  times  as  much  sail 
would  not  have  availed  to  drive  her  at  any  great  speed. 
The  officers  saw  to  their  sorrow  that  the  little  wind  they 
had  was  becoming  less ;  and  the  men  damned  it  freely.  In 
vain  did  certain  old  salts  stand  with  their  faces  aft,  and 
softly,  alluringly,  whistle  by  the  half-hour.  Boreas  was  coy. 
Uselessly  did  they  stick  their  knives  into  that  side  of  the 
mast  on  which  the  breeze  was  desired  :  it  would  not  come. 
At  midnight  Quartermaster  William  Johnson  pulled  his 
sheath-knife  out  of  the  spanker  mast,  where  it  had  been 
sticking  three  hours  for  the  good  of  the  service,  and  sigh- 
ingly remarked  to  Bill  Burke,  who  came  to  relieve  him, 
that  "  when  he  sailed  with  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  R.  Jones, 
£ir,  he  never  know'd  it  to  fail."  Hartley  had  turned  in  at 
ten,  sorrowful,  fearful,  and  reproaching  himself  for  not  hav- 
ing made  at  least  an  effort  to  get  Mary  away  when  he  had 
the  chance. 

Afterward,  all  night  long,  in  the  moonshine  and  in  the 
hazy  darkness,  the  ship  continued  to  move  along  in  the 
same  torpid  manner,  scarcely  holding  steerage  way,  scarcely 
seeming  to  move. 


378  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Hartley  came  on  deck  at  four,  to  keep  the  morning  watch. 
He  found  in  the  order-book  instructions  to  wake  the  Cap- 
tain and  the  first  lieutenant  at  that  hour,  and  to  report  to 
the  captain  the  bearings  of  the  laud  and  whether  anything 
was  in  sight.  He  noted  down  the  bearings,  with  surprise 
to  find  how  close  in  they  were,  sent  them  in  to  the  captain 
by  the  midshipman  of  the  quarter-deck,  and  had  McKizick 
called. 

The  first  lieutenant  came  on  deck  himself  directly,  being 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  kind  who  liked  to  oversee  the  ship's 
work  from  daylight  till  dark.  He  saluted,  glanced  around 
the  horizon  with  the  unavoidable  habit  of  an  old  officer,  and, 
like  Hartley,  was  surprised  to  find  the  ship  so  close  in  shore. 
The  Fisherman's  Key  was  only  about  two  miles  distant, 
bearing  northeast  on  the  port  beam. 

"  Hello  !  "  exclaimed  McKizick.  "  There's  more  current 
than  I  thought." 

"  We've  made  so  little  it  has  had  a  fair  sweep  at  us," 
replied  Hartley.  "  I'm  afraid  we  have  a  slim  chance  of 
seeing  the  schooner  again  soon." 

"  It  doesn't  look  like  it,  that's  a  fact,"  responded  Mc-Kiz- 
ick.  "I  believe  the  rascals  have  cut  out  to  take  some 
other  place  for  their  headquarters,  and  we'll  have  all  this 
work  over  again,  and  more,  may  be." 

"It  seems  very  much  as  you  say,"  remarked  Hartley 
ruefully.  "  Did  you  get  anything  out  of  that  fellow  Mr. 
Larkin  caught  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word.  The  captain  had  him  in  the  cabin  last 
night  and  tried  to  pump  him,  but  he  wouldn't  talk.  He 
didn't  understand  any  English,  or  French,  or  Spanish,  or 
he  pretended  he  didn't,  any  how.  He's  a  d — d  Portygee,  and 
we  haven't  anybody  in  the  ship  that  knows  their  lingo.  He 
no  intendy  nothin'.  I'll  take  good  care  the  rascal  don't  get 
away  like  your  darkey  did." 

The  two  were  walking  up  and  down  the  quarter-deck 
while  they  talked.  Presently  McKizick  began  again  : 
"  There's  something  more  than  we  know  about  that  key, 


A  STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  379 

Hartley — something  queer.  You  recollect  how  we  found  La 
Hembrilla  hove  to  there  the  first  time,  with  her  boat  in  ? — 
and  the  box  ?  and  how  we  saw  her  stop  there  again  ? 
Then  you  picked  up  their  muster-roll  when  you  went  over. 
Well,  night  before  last,  when  you  were  ashore  and  we  were 
looking  ouj  for  you,  the  captain  took  a  notion  you  might 
have  got  down  this  way,  and  he  had  the  ship  run  down  here. 
We  made  a  long  leg  to  the  point  there,  and  hove  to  and 
watched,  and  we  saw  a  light  bobbing  around  in  the  middle 
of  the  key.  We  couldn't  make  it  out,  but  thought  it  might 
be  you  ;  so  we  burned  a  port-fire.  The  light  was  put  out 
or  hid  right  away,  like  somebody  was  scared,  and  we  didn't 
see  it  any  more.  We  would  have  sent  in  a  boat  to  over- 
haul it,  but  concluded  you  was  further  west  and  didn't 
like  to  lose  any  chance  of  picking  you  up.  There  was  a  big 
lot  of  port-fires  expended  on  your  account  that  night, 
young  man." 

Hartley's  recollections  gave  him  a  ready  explanation  of 
the  light.  He  had  no  doubt  that  it  was  carried  by  the  men 
Jackson  and  Peters,  whose  instructions  to  change  the  place 
of  the  treasure  he  had  overheard  ;  but  his  invincible  un- 
willingness to  share  the  secret  still  kept  him  silent.  Bread 
eaten  in  secret  is  pleasant. 

McKizick  was  possessed   by   thoughtfulness   for  some 
minutes.     "  I'll  do  it,"  he  spoke  out  decidedly  after  awhile. 
■    "Do  what?" 

"  Send  a  boat  in.  We're  almost  dead  in  the  water  now. 
and  shan't  lose  any  time  by  waiting,  and  maybe  we  can  find 
out  something.  Maybe  there's  somebody  over  there  watch- 
ing us  now.     I'll  see  the  captain." 

So  saying  he  ran  below,  returning  in  five  minutes. 
**  Man  the  third  cutter,  sir,"  he  commanded.  The  boat  was 
called  away  and  got  ready. 

"  Boat's  ready,  sir ;  who  shall  I  send  in  charge  ?  "  asked 
Hartley. 

"Take  charge  yourself,  sir.  I'll  relieve  you.  Go  in 
and  find  out  what  you  can.     If  there's  anybody  on  the  key 


380  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

bring  him  off.  Be  a  little  careful  in  landing.  Choose  a 
spot  where  there's  no  cover  near  the  beach — there  might 
be  another  ambush,  you  know.     Shove  off!  " 

Hartley  left  the  ship  and  pulled  in  shore.  Rounding 
the  point,  he  landed  on  the  southeastern  part  of  the  key,  at 
a  spot  where  the  sand  extended  back  from  the, beach  in  a 
low  flat  field  for  some  distance.  He  took  half  the  boat's 
crew,  and  sent  each  man  separately  across  in  a  different 
direction,  with  orders  to  come  back  as  soon  as  he  had 
reached  the  opposite  side.  This  done,  he  walked  alone 
along  the  eastern  beach.  The  two  pointed  rocks  were 
there,  close  to  the  shore,  plain  and  unmistakable,  and  off 
to  his  left,  toward  the  middle  of  the  barren  islet,  were  the 
three  mounds.  He  went  directly  to  the  furthest  one,  and 
ascended  its  yielding  slope.  On  its  peaked  top  were  foot 
tracks,  and  the  surface  of  the  soil  showed  the  marks  of 
recent  disturbance.  Evidently  he  had  heard  correctly 
— there  was  no  mistake — this  was  the  spot — and  beneath 
him,  he  thought  as  he  stood  on  the  summit,  within  three  feet 
of  him,  lay  a  rich  treasure.  He  was  inclined  for  an  instant 
to  call  his  men,  dig  it  up,  and  take  it  back  to  the  ship ;  but 
he  remembered  his  previous  silence,  and  the  thought  of  his 
embarrassment  at  having  to  account  therefor  deterred  him. 
He  did  not  believe  the  government  would  divide  it  as 
prize  money :  if  it  should,  there  would  be  very  little  for 
each  one ;  and  his  own  plan  for  securing  and  using  it 
promised  good  results.  As  before,  he  held  his  peace — of 
course. 

Half  an  hour  later  he  was  again  on  board  the  ship  in 
charge  of  the  deck,  performing  his  duties  mechanically, 
and  forgetting  the  buried  treasure,  like  all  other  things, 
in  fears,  hopes,  and  plans  for  his  beloved  Mary. 

By  this  time  the  breeze  had  failed  entirely,  and  the  ship 
rolled  in  a  glassy  calm.  So  she  continued  till  nine  o'clock, 
when  a  fresh  cool  wind  came  up  off  the  sea  and  caught  her 
sails  aback.  Her  head  was  boxed  off,  the  yards  trimmed 
sharp  up,  and  the  pleasant  sound  of  parted  murmuring 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  381 

water  was  again  heard,  the  life- like  careen  again  felt,  as  she 
danced  away  merrily,  full  and  by. 

On  the  very  first  stretch  off  shore,  a  sail  was  reported 
in  the  east.  The  orders  then  were  to  work  over  in  that 
direction,  and  many  curious,  hopeful  eyes  watched  the  dis- 
tant speck  with  eagerness.  It  fast  grew  larger,  coming 
directly  toward  them,  but  before  they  could  make  out  her 
rig,  the  advancing  vessel  took  a  sudden  alarm.  Shifting 
her  course  to  the  south,  the  glass  revealed,  as  she  swung 
around,  that  she  was  a  schooner.  Even  the  lookout  on  the 
topsail-yard  could  make  out  no  more  than  that,  which  left 
to  all  hands  the  hope  and  supposition  that  she  was  La 
Hembrilla. 

This  put  life  into  the  crew.  They  were  all  disappointed 
at  the  failure  of  the  effort  to  punish  the  slayers  of  their 
messmates  ;  and  here  was  a  fresh  chance.  Nevertheless,  it 
was  to  be  another  di appointment.  The  stranger  sailed  so 
badly  that,  in  spite  of  her  laying  closer,  the  Flying  Fish 
overhauled  her  fast.  By  two  o'clock  it  was  apparent  to 
everybody  that  she  was  nothing  but  a  dull  and  badly 
scared  merchantman  with  a  deck-load.  When  there  was 
no  longer  a  shade  of  doubt,  the  pursuit  was  stopped,  and 
the, ship  put  before  the  wind.  This  evidently  inspired  the 
schooner  with  fresh  confidence,  for  she  resumed  her  old 
course  again,  coming  down  wing  and  wing. 

Captain  Merritt  explained  to  Hartley  and  Garnet,  who, 
with  the  first  lieutenant,  had  been  watching  the  schooner, 
his  reasons  for  running  back.  "  Just  as  like  as  not,  gentle- 
men, that  Hackett,  who  is  a  very  sly  dog,  is  playing  a  fresh 
trick  on  us.  You  saw  him  standing  to  the  southeast,  Mi*. 
Hartley,  but  none  of  us  know  how  long  he  kept  that  course. 
Perhaps  he  has  run  away  in  this  manner,  expecting  us  to 
believe  that  he  has  abandoned  his  old  quarters.  I  think  it 
more  than  likely,  and  I  believe  he  is  not  apt  to  come  back 
at  once.  He  will  give  us  a  little  while  to  make  sure  he  is 
gone.  Now  I  am  going  to  try  his  own  tactics  on  him.  I 
am  going  to  run  the  ship  up  the  Cobre  to-night,  if  the  wind 


382  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

holds,  and  hide  her  there ;  and  to-morrow  we'll  establish  a 
regular  look-out  station,  after  we  take  a  look  at  his  village, 
and  make  sure  he  isn't  already  back.  We'll  prepare  to  re- 
ceive him  as  he  did  us  ;  eh,  gentlemen?" 

They  all  fell  in  with  Captain  Merritt's  idea  at  once,  and 
Hartley  was  particularly  well  pleased,  as  it  seemed  to  him 
the  veiy  best  chance  he  had  to  get  some  news  of  Mary. 
He  did  not  believe  Hackett  would  abandon  all  the  plunder 
left  in  the  quarters  without  once  returning  to  see  what  could 
be  saved.  Beside,  nobody  knew  where  else  to  look  after 
the  pirates.  It  was  much  the  better  plan  to  make  sure  they 
were  gone  before  commencing  to  search  for  them  elsewhere. 
He  thought  he  would  like  to  be  assigned  to  constant  duty 
as  a  lookout ;  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  would  be  far  happier 
watching,  glass  in  hand,  for  the  coming  of  the  vessel  that 
carried  Mary,  than  in  doing  any  other  work. 

They  set  the  studding-sails  to  make  the  most  of  the 
sea-breeze  while  it  lasted,  and  ran  back  to  the  northward 
and  westward,  the  wind  failing  by  degrees,  as  it  had  in 
the  night. 

Hartley  and  Garnet  spent  the  afternoon  together  on  the 
gun-deck  by  the  bridle-port.  Out  of  its  inclining  square 
they  watched  the  play  of  light  upon  the  waves,  the  spark- 
ling blue  waters,  the  land  they  were  approaching.  They 
talked  of  the  many  and  varied  incidents  their  cruise  had 
afforded  them,  of  their  future  hopes  and  plans,  of  their  feel- 
ings, and  by  turns  they  were  silent,  as  the  impulse  seized 
them.  Never  l^efore  had  Hartley  been  allowed  to  look  more 
clearly  into  his  friend's  heart  of  hearts,  and  recognizing  its 
purity  and  faithfulness  it  seemed  to  him  a  holy  of  holies. 
He  revered  Garnet  for  the  time,  and  felt  ashamed  to  think 
of  his  own  capriciousness  in  contrast. 

Hartley,  of  course,  spoke  about  his  fears  for  Mary's 
safety,  dwelling  painedly  on  the  attack  made  by  Arrowson. 

"  Harry,"  said  Garnet,  "  I'm  not  sure  that  I'm  not  as 
anxious  as  you." 

"  Why  ?    What  do  you  mean  ?  " 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAK    NAVY.  383 

"  On  IsabePs  account."  It  was  the  first  time  he  had 
ever  heard  Garnet  speak  of  her  by  her  Christian  name. 

"  No,"  said  Hartley,  "  you  haven't  the  same  reason  that 
I  have." 

*'  I  believe  I  have." 

"  What !  you  don't  love  her ! "  said  Hartley  bluntly, 
turning  to  look  at  his  friend  in  amazement.  Garnet  was 
blushing. 

"  To  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief,  I  do,"  was 
the  candid  response. 

"  Well,  I  declare  !  How  did  it  happen  ?  I  am  per- 
fectly astonished !  " 

"  It  happened  as  usual,  I  suppose.  I  saw  her  and  liked 
her,  and  heard  her  talked  about,  and  thought  of  her — and 
perhaps  your  example  was  infectious." 

"  You  have  never  spoken  to  her  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word.  I'm  by  no  means  sure  she  would  accept 
me." 

"She  would,  she  would,"  affirmed  Hartley,  eagerly. 
Then  he  added  fervently,  "  The  Lord  take  care  of  her  and 
give  you  a  chance  to  ask  her." 

"  Amen,"  replied  Garnet,  half  seriously,  half  in  his  ac- 
customed dry  tone.  Presently,  as  if  afraid  he  had  shown 
himself  too  openly,  he  commenced  on  an  entirely  different 
subject.  "  Did  you  ever  hear  Robbins  talk  about  religion," 
he  asked. 

"No.     Why?     What  does  he  believe  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  fatalist — a  perfect  Turk." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  overheard  him  talking  to  the  midshipmen  in  the 
steerage  one  night.  He  goes  in  sometimes  and  drinks  with 
them,  but  I  don't  think  his  influence  will  do  them  any  good. 
His  reputation  for  bravery  makes  them  look  up  to  him,  but 
he  hasn't  anything  to  teach  them  they  ought  to  learn.  One 
night,  as  I  was  getting  ready  to  go  on  deck  for  the  first 
watch,  I  heard  voices  in  the  steerage  raised  pretty  loud,  as 
people  are  apt  to  talk  when  they  get  into  argument.     I  paid 


384  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

no  attention  till  I  started  up  the  ladder,  when  I  noticed 
that  Kobbins  was  there,  speaking  excitedly.  It  made  me  a 
little  curious,  and  it  was  so  loud  I  thought  it  public  prop- 
erty anyhow,  so  I  stopped  and  listened.  They  were  argu- 
ing about  predestination  and  election.  It  was  hot,  I  tell 
you.  Bobbins  was  holding  that  our  actions  were  all  laid 
out  for  us  beforehand,  and  that  we  are  neither  responsible 
nor  able  to  help  ourselves.  Larkin  was  insisting  that  we 
are  all  free  agents,  and  the  mids  were  putting  in  on  both 
sides.  Of  course,  neither  could  bring  forward  any  proofs, 
so  the  argument  consisted  of  nothing  but  warm  assertions. 
*ril  be  d— d  if  it  is!'  said  Larkin.  'I'll  be  d— d  if  it 
isn't ! '  said  Robbins  ;  and  he  banged  the  table  with  his  fist. 
I  thought  that  if  they  w^ere  taken  at  their  word,  one  of 
them  at  least,  would  be  in  a  bad  way  hereafter  and  I  came 
away.  I  heard  some  of  the  young  whelps  laughing  as  I 
came  up  the  ladder." 

"  I  dare  say  that's  the  secret  of  Robbins's  courage," 
remarked  Hartley. 

"  What  ?  " 

"  Why,  his  belief.  He  thinks  he  won't  die  till  his  time 
comes,  and  when  it  does  come  he  can't  help  himself,  and 
that  he  can't  be  held  to  a  future  account  for  actions  he 
wasn't  able  to  avoid." 

"  I  dare  say." 

After  awhile  Hartley  asked  Garnet  how  Dularge  was 
getting  along  in  navigation. 

"  Oh,  so,  so." 

"  Does  he  bore  you  much.  Will  ?  " 

"  Well,  it's  more  instructive  to  him  than  amusing  to  me, 
I  must  say,"  was  the  reply.  "  Teaching  him  is  quite  a  dis- 
traction. How  universal  is  the  reign  of  law  !  "  he  added, 
after  a  pause. 

"  As  how.  Will  ?  " 

"  Look  at  Dularge.  How  big  and  important  he  is  on 
ordinary  occasions !     How  little  he  gets,  in  a  tight  place  !  " 

"  That's  so  ;  but  what  does  it  prove  ?  " 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  385 

"The  space  occupied  is  inversely  as  the  pressure,"  quo- 
ted Garnet. 

"  Correct,"  replied  Hartley,  smiling.  "  Hence  we  infer 
that  Dulargo  is  principally  gas.     If  so,  why  not  ?  " 

By  six  o'clock  the  ship  lay  off  the  river,  and  it  was  again 
perfectly  calm.  While  she  rolled  slowly  on  the  long  ground- 
swell,  tfie  officers  scanned  the  horizon  for  a  sign  of  the  craft 
they  had  been  hunting.  Nobody  wanted  to  see  her  just 
then,  but  no  one  would  have  been  surprised  had  she  appeared 
in  time  to  spoil  their  new  plans. 

The  sun  went  down  in  a  crimson  blaze  of  glory,  which 
spread  high  up  over  the  sky,  fading  away  by  imperceptible 
transitions  into  scarlet,  red,  rose,  and  pink,  finally  passing 
into  blue.  The  sea  was  stained  in  the  west  with  a  bloody 
tinge.     Every  sign  betokened  continued  fair  weather. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  land  breeze  sprung  up.  The  yards 
were  trimmed,  the  sails  hoisted  up  to  a  taut  leech,  and  the 
sloop  stood  into  the  mouth  of  the  stream  under  royals. 
Now  appeared  the  utility  of  Garnet's  survey  of  the  river. 
With  his  chart  spread  out  on  the  signal  chest  aft  and 
lighted  by  a  deck  lantern,  the  captain  superintended  the 
movements  of  the  ship  and  directed  her  course.  The  wind 
blew  from  the  west  of  north,  as  usual  at  night,  so  that  they 
were  able  to  stand  up  the  channel  close-hauled.  At  first 
they  could  hardly  stem  the  current,  but  the  breeze  steadily 
freshened  and  momently  the  speed  of  the  ship  increased. 
From  the  bight  opposite  the  creek  the  channel  lay  two  points 
more  to  the  eastward,  conforming  to  the  trend  of  the  shore, 
and  the  ship  was  kept  away  two  points  free,  without,  how- 
ever, touching  a  brace.  With  still  greater  speed  she  shot 
up  the  reach  toward  the  point  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above. 

All  hands  had  been  called  to  bring  ship  to  anchor  before 
they  entered  the  river,  and  the  anchors  were  all  ready  for 
letting  go.  Now  the  gear  was  led  out  and  manned  prepar- 
atory to  shortening  sail.  A  heavy  kedge  had  been  pre- 
pared to  let  go  from  the  fore-chains,  with  a  strong  hawser 
rove  through  the  chock  in  the  bridle-port  and  bent  to  its 
17 


383  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

ring,  and  a  buoy  attached  to  the  inboard  end  of  the  haw- 
ser. Special  hands  had  been  detailed  to  attend  below,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Mr.  Harrison,  the  gunner,  who  had  re- 
ceived careful  instructions. 

The  sail  was  all  kept  on  the  ship,  however ;  not  a  sheet 
or  halliard  was  started.  In  silence,  broken  only  by  the 
quick  rush  of  the  water  under  the  bows  and  the  song  of  the 
leadsmen  in  the  chains,  the  sloop  rapidly  approached  the 
point.  They  reached  it,  and  over  it  could  see  to  the  left  a 
broaden]  ng  of  the  stream,  like  a  little  lake,  where  it  turned 
sharply  to  the  west. 

"  Drop  the  kedge,  McKizick,"  said  the  captain;  and  the 
little  anchor  splashed  in  the  water  at  the  order  that  fol- 
lowed. 

They  ran  on  past  the  point,  and  the  ship's  bows  pointed 
directly  toward  the  bank  of  the  cove  opposite,  into  which 
she  seemed  bound  to  go. 

"  The  helm,  McKizick !  "  said  the  captain,  short  and 
sharp. 

"  Hard-a-starboard !  "  commanded  McKizick.  The  wheel 
whirled  round  in  the  hands  of  the  quick  quartermasters, 
and  the  ship  came  swiftly  to  the  wind.  "  Hard-a-starboard 
it  is,  sir." 

Now  the  sails  were  in  a  flutter  fore  and  aft.  "  Snub 
her  !  "  roared  McKizick  down  the  main  hatch.  "  Haul 
taut !  Shorten  sail !  "  Up  ran  the  courses,  down  rattled 
jibs;  up  went  the  topsail  clews  above  the  yards,  down 
dropped  topgallant  sails  and  royals.  In  a  moment's  time 
the  spanker  was  the  only  sail  set. 

The  men  below  attending  the  hawser  now  kept  it  fast, 
checking  only  enough  to  prevent  it  from  parting,  and  the 
ship  swung  round  in  a  circular  curve,  of  which  the  hawser 
was  the  radius,  as  a  weight  may  swing  horizontally  at  the 
end  of  a  line.  Quickly  her  head  turned  to  the  westward, 
soon  it  was  due  west.  "  Steady  !  Stream  the  buoy  !  " 
ordered  McKizick.  The  helm  was  righted,  and  another 
splash  was  heard  as  the  remainder  of  the  hawser  and  the 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  387 

buoy  fastened  to  it  to  facilitate  its  recovery  were  cast  over- 
board. 

Running  now  into  the  deep  lake-like  pool  above,  where 
the  current  was  nearly  lost  in  the  volume  of  the  water,  the 
ship  held  her  way  well.  "  Starboard  !  Stand  by  the  port 
anchor!"  was  the  command.  Still  the  sloop  ran  on  in  the 
placid  pond,  but  by  degrees  her  headway  ceased. 

"  Let  me  know  when  she  goes  astern,"  said  McKizick  to 
the  leadsman. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir."  "  Very  little  way  on  her  now,  sir." 
"  Lost  her  way,  sir."  "  Going  astern,  sir,"  were  the  suc- 
cessive reports  that  rapidly  succeeded.  They  were  now 
about  one  hundred  yards  beyond  the  point,  and  close  to  the 
southern  shore. 

"  Stand  clear  of  the  port  cable !  Let  go  the  port 
anchor ! "  ordered  McKizick. 

The  heavy  anchor  dropped  with  a  dull  plunge  into  the 
river,  and  the  chain  was  veered  to  fifteen  fathoms.  The 
ship  lay  secure  and  motionless  in  her  new  position,  per- 
fectly screened  by  the  trees  on  the  high  shore  from  sight  of 
any  vessel  passing  at  sea.     It  was  nine  o'clock. 

As  soon  as  the  sails  were  furled  the  hands  were  released 
and  the  hammocks  piped  down.  Directly  the  decks  were 
clear  of  the  crew,  who  were  weary  of  their  labors  and  very 
glad  to  turn  in  for  a  solid  night's  rest.  It  was  thought 
needless  to  set  an  anchor  watch. 

The  officers  stayed  awhile  longer  on  deck  to  enjoy  the 
charm  of  the  night  and  the  lovely  scene.  The  basin  in 
which  the  sloop  lay  was  about  four  hundred  yards  long  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  wide  in  its  broadest  part,  and  had  all 
the  appearance  of  a  miniature  lake.  The  high  trees  on 
shore  waved  their  dark  arms  as  though  beckoning  or  warn- 
ing. Off  the  glossy  leaves  of  some  kinds  the  moonbeams 
glanced  as  from  little  mirrors,  making  shining  patches  on  a 
dusky  background.  Along  the  south  bank  a  narrow  black 
shadow  fell  on  the  water  like  the  border  of  a  land  of  mys- 
tery.    For  a  few  minutes  it  fell  quite  calm,  or  seemed  so 


388  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

there,  and  the  glassy  level  water  reflected  the  heavens 
above  without  a  tremor,  so  perfectly  that  it  seemed  as  if 
one  could  leap  over  the  rail  into  bottomless  space,  and  fall 
eternally.  "  An  opiate  vapor,  dewy,  dim,"  filled  all  the 
air,  and  bathed  the  faces  of  the  charmed  watchers  with  a 
cool  and  grateful  moisture. 

The  captain  stood  aft  talking  with  McKizick ;  and  see- 
ing  Hartley,  who  had  the  watch,  walking  the  deck  with 
Garnet,  he  called  them  both. 

"  I  was  just  saying  to  Mr.  McKizick  that  we  had  an 
uncommonly  snug  berth  here,"  he  remarked,  as  they 
approached. 

"  We  couldn't  have  luffed  around  without  the  kedge, 
sir,"  said  Hartley,  "  and  that  makes  the  place  good  beyond 
suspicion.  Hackett  will  never  dream  of  our  coming  up 
here,  I  suppose  he  thinks  it  impossible  to  get  so  large  a 
vessel  this  high  up." 

"  Exactly  so.  The  concealment  is  perfect,  but  the  un- 
likelihood of  our  coming  into  such  a  place  is  better  yet  for 
our  purpose.  Mr.  Hartley,  you  are  pretty  well  acquainted 
with  the  nature  of  the  country, — where  do  you  say  put  our 
signal  station  ?  " 

The  four  officers  proceeded  to  discuss  and  settle  a  system 
of  signalling  intended  to  convey  through  the  air  from  some 
lookout  station  at  the  river's  mouth,  the  appearance 
and  movements  of  La  Hembrilla,  should  she  return  from 
sea.  This  took  them  some  time.  When  they  had  agreed 
upon  a  plan,  there  was  a  pause  for  a  minute.  The  captain 
broke  it,  speaking  in  a  serious  tone.  "  Gentlemen,  all 
these  plans  and  schemes  of  ours  depend  on  one  thing,  which 
is  unlikely  but  by  no  means  impossible.  That  is,  that 
Hackett  may  get  back  to  the  Plaven  with  his  band  before 
morning.  He  may  be  there  now.  In  such  a  case,  our  sig- 
nal stations  and  all  that  would  be  nonsense.  We  must 
know  first  thing  if  he  is  there  ;  .'ind  to  find  that  out  I  have 
reserved  you,  Mr.  Hartley,  as  being  specially  fitted  by  your 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  889 

superior  knowledge  of  the  ground.  It  may  be  a  dangerous 
duty,  but  I  know  you  will  not  shrink  from  it. 

"  I  wish  you  to  take  an  armed  boat's  crew  and  a  mid- 
shipman, and  leave  the  ship  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
You  will  land  at  your  discretion,  and  proceed  with  caution 
to  see  if  the  enemy  is  in  his  village.  By  no  means  under- 
take to  communicate  with  the  prisoners.  As  to  the  num- 
ber of  men  you  take  along,  use  your  judgment,  but  leave 
enough  to  pull  the  boat  across  the  river  and  out  of  the 
way,  in  case  you  are  captured.  In  that  event,  you  and  the 
men  with  you,  must  discharge  your  fire-arms  as  a  signal, 
which  must  be  repeated  by  the  men  left  in  the  boat.  If 
there  is  no  enemy  present,  you  will  hoist  your  colors  in 
returning  to  the  ship,  but  if  you  have  found  him,  leave  them 
down,  that  we  may  know  and  lose  no  time  in  commencing 
to  get  ready.     Are  my  instructions  clear,  sir  ?" 

"Perfectly  so,  sir." 

"  Then  I  will  bid  you  good-night.  I  will  see  you  off  in 
the  morning,  sir ; "  and  the  captain  went  below. 

As  soon  as  he  was  out  of  hearing,  McKizick  began. 
"  Hartley,  I'm  d — d  sorry  about  this.  Briggs  and  Larkin 
are  too  young  and  inexperienced  to  send,  not  to  speak  of 
Dularge  at  all ;  so  it  lay  among  us  three.  I  tried  to  get  the 
old  man  to  let  me  go,  but  he  wouldn't  hear  a  word.  *  Mr. 
Hartley  knoWs  the  ground  best,  and  he's  quicker  than  you,' 
was  all  he  would  say." 

"  Why,  McKizick,"  responded  Hartley  gayly,  "  I  have 
no  objection.     I'd  as  lief  go." 

"  By  ,"  said  McKizick,  earnestly,  "  if  those  chaps 

happen  to  be  back,  it  '11  be  no  fool's  job,  I  can  tell  you. 
It's  very  well  to  be  willing  to  go,  but  you  must  take  care 
of  yourself." 

"  All  right,  old  fellow." 

"  Well,  I'll  be  on  deck  in  the  morning,  before  you're 
off.     After  all,  they  probably  won't  be  back.     Good  night." 

McKizick  went  below,  and  left  the  two  friends  alone 
together. 


390  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Garnet  had  resolved  to  stand  the  watch  out  with  his 
friend,  having  a  strong  presentment  that  it  might  be  the 
last.     "  This  is  a  serious  business,  Hal,"  said  he. 

Hartley,  now  that  he  was  alone  with  his  friend,  as- 
sented to  the  true  view  of  the  case.  He  was  fully  im- 
pressed with  the  danger  he  would  run  by  falling  again  into 
the  pirates'  hands  :  he  had  not  a  doubt  they  would  shoot 
him  if  they  caught  him.  However,  they  probably  were  not 
back.  He  looked  at  the  matter  cheerfully,  and  determined 
not  to  be  scared  by  nobody. 

Garnet  directly  agreed  with  him,  though  still  advis- 
ing him  to  caution,  and  the  two  fell  to  discussing  the  pros- 
spects  of  setting  the  Dewhursts  free. 

After  awhile,  in  passing  the  binnacle  light,  Hartley  took 
out  his  watch  to  observe  the  time.  Garnet  paused  by  his 
side,  waiting  for  him  to  resume  the  walk.  The  quarter- 
master of  the  watch  was  at  the  taffrail,  looking  through 
the  glass  from  force  of  habit,  though  there  was  nothing  to 
be  seen.  Not  a  sound  could  be  heard,  far  or  near :  the 
stillness  was  absolute,  and  they  involuntarily  waited  with 
sharpened  hearing  for  something  to  break  it. 

Hartley  noticed  that  it  was  eleven  o'clock,  and  he  was 
just  about  to  put  the  watch  away,  when  his  quick  seaman's 
ear  caught  what  seemed  a  familiar  sound.  '*  Did  you  hear 
anything,  Will  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  startled  manner. 

"  Thought  I  heard  something  rattle  like  a  block,  or 
running  up  a  jib." 

"  S-s-h  !  hark !  Stand  still,  quartermaster  !  "  In  a  few 
seconds  the  unmistakable  sound  of  a  voice  in  command 
came  to  them  clearly.  The  words  were  distinct,  though 
not  loud,  "  Steady  as  you  go  !  " 

The  two  walked  to  the  taffrail,  and  listened  again.  A 
faint  noise  came  to  them,  which  became  louder  from 
instant  to  instant,  a  noise  like  that  of  running  water. 
"  A  vessel  coming  up  !  "  said  Hartley  astonished. 

"  Yes,"  dry  and  matter  of  fact,  from  Garnet.  "  What 
in  the  world  can  it  be  at  this  time  of  the  night  ?  " 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  391 

"  Don't  know." 

The  noise  continued  to  increase  till  they  could  plainly 
hear  the  lapping  and  rush  of  the  water  under  the  bows  of 
the  coming  vessel,  which  now  seemed  to  be  just  out  of  sight 
around  the  point. 

Suddenly  a  thought  struck  Garnet  like  an  inspiration. 
Turning  to  the  quartermaster,  he  ordered  him  in  a  voice 
that  brooked  no  delay  to  go  down  the  fore-hatch,  and  keep 
the  men  from  coming  up.  "  Mr.  Young,  go  below,  and  keep 
still — at  once,  sir !  Hal,  go  to  the  main  hatch  and  keep  the 
men  below — don't  show  yourself — quick  !  "  Hartley  obeyed, 
wondering,  but  without  stopping  to  ask  questions,  for  he 
saw  that  Garnet  had  an  idea.  Garnet  threw  the  hood  over 
the  binnacle  lamp,  and  joined  Hartley  at  the  main  hatch 
behind  the  mast. 

In  a  moment  after,  a  schooner  under  gaff-topsails  and 
flying-jib,  came  from  behind  the  little  cape  below,  glided  into 
the  cove  with  a  strange  stillness,  and  went  in  stays  very 
near  the  opposite  shore.  Filling  on  the  starboard  tack, 
she  gathered  way  and  passed  the  ship  like  a  phantom,  with 
all  her  sails  palely  glimmering.  She  stood  on  up  the  reach, 
tacked  again  at  its  head,  and  disappeared  around  the  bend 
above.     It  was  La  Hembrilla. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


WHEN  Arrowson  was  left  alone  in  command  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  piratical  band,  he  did  not  fail  to 
see  the  advantages  offered  by  the  situation,  and  he  resolved 
to  profit  by  them.  He  had  a  feeling  of  mastery  which 
elated  him  and  filled  him  with  a  cruel  satisfaction,  the 
greatest  mental  joy  of  which  his  savage  nature  was  capable. 
Throughout  the  day  he  showed  his  delight  by  his  con- 
duct.    He  was  brutally,  jocosely  sarcastic,  when  once  or 


392  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

twice  he  took  occasion  to  speak  to  Mr.  Dewhurst,  and  he 
ventured  to  pay  Mary  an  insulting  compliment,  which  her 
father  dared  not  notice,  for  her  sake,  though  it  made  his 
blood  boil.  In  his  manner  toward  the  men,  the  mate 
affected  a  jocular,  hail-fellow-well-met  style,  intended  to  be 
ingratiating.  He  derided  Hackett,  complained  of  the 
smallness  of  the  plunder  under  his  rule,  pitied  the  men 
for  the  dog's  life  they  led,  and  regretfully  alluded  to  the 
good  old  times  they  had  all  seen.  It  took  very  well.  He 
was  touching  them  in  what  he  well  knew  to  be  a  re- 
sponsive place. 

He  further  showed  his  contempt  for  Hackett  by  neglect- 
ing all  instructions.  He  set  no  lookout  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  the  cruiser,  and  consequently  remained  in  igno- 
rance of  her  expedition's  visit  to  the  deserted  quarters.  At 
night  he  gave  such  careless,  indifferent  orders  about  guard- 
ing the  prisoners,  that  a  correspondingly  perfunctory  watch 
was  kept ;  and  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Sarah  and  Jane, 
finding  that  their  guard  slept  soundly  beneath  the  trees, 
arose  and  departed. 

In  all  this.  Big  Ben  was  Arrowson's  shadow.  Before 
going  to  bed,  the  two  rascals  had  a  j^rivate  consultation. 
They  expressed  mutual  dissatisfaction  at  their  present  loca- 
tion, and  united  in  cursing  Hackett,  who  indeed,  could  have 
hardly  pleased  them  by  any  action  in  the  world.  After  a 
good  deal  of  talk,  they  agreed  to  defer  any  further  attempt 
on  Mary  and  Isabel  for  the  present.  The  girls  stayed  per- 
sistently near  Mr.  Dewhurst,  which  was  one  obstacle,  and  an- 
other was  found  in  the  handsome  quadroon  woman,  Juliette. 
Since  Catarina  had  whispered  to  her,  she  had  been  furiously 
jealous,  was  swearing  dire  vengeance,  and  was  making 
Arrowson  very  uncomfortable.  She  was  one  of  the  few 
things  he  respected. 

Furthermore,  a  lingering  remnant  of  the  charm  with 
which  a  physically  courageous  man  like  Hackett  always 
sways  other  men  less  brave,  still  remained  in  Arrowson's 
mind,  exciting  fear.     Markley  would  not  venture  any  at- 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  393 

tempt  alone  after  his  mysterious  punishment  before  received, 
and  the  matter  was  dropped  for  the  time. 

They  were  no  more  successful  in  making  a  plan  for  de- 
stroying their  chief.  They  plotted  enough,  but  ended  by 
putting  it  off  till  they  could  see  their  way  clearer. 

When  Arrowson  was  awakened  in  the  morning  with 
the  news  that  the  Sarah  and  Jane's  crew  had  escaped,  he 
received  it  with  indifference.  He  had  never  liked  the 
trouble  of  ransoming  prisoners,  preferring  to  plunder  them 
at  once  of  what  they  had  worth  taking,  and  to  save  further 
annojiance  by  turning  them  adrift  or  shooting  them  ;  and 
the  disappearance  of  these  impecunious  men  was  a  relief,  in 
that  he  had  no  longer  to  feed  and  guard  them.  He  did 
not,  like  Hackett,  find  fault  with,  and  punish  the  watch,  but 
passed  their  negligence  over  even  making  the  excuse  that  it 
was  "  no  wonder  that  they  went  to  sleep,  for  they  had  been 
nearly  worked  to  death."  He  saw  how  he  might  turn  the 
event  to  his  own  purposes.  He  had  passed  an  uncomfort- 
able night  on  the  floor,  and  felt  more  than  ever  dissatisfied 
with  the  bridge  for  a  camp.  The  escape  gave  him  another 
chance  to  show  his  contempt  of  the  chiefs  authority  ;  and 
if  that  person  should  press  him  for  a  reason  for  the  dis- 
obedience, he  could  say  that  he  left  the  bridge  because  it 
was  so  difiicult  to  keep  prisoners,  and  he  feared  the  Dew- 
hursts,  also,  would  get  away.  So,  without  waiting  even  to 
prepare  breakfastj  he  gave  orders  to  remove  back  to  the 
quarters. 

The  band  were  well  pleased  with  the  new  order,  for  the 
quarters  was  their  home ;  and  they,  too,  had  missed  their 
creature  comforts.  They  set  themselves  with  alacrity  to 
gathering  up  their  effects,  and  in  half  an  hour  the  whole 
gang  was  ready  to  march.  The  women  carried  little  chil- 
dren and  cooking  utensils,  the  men  had  loads  of  provisions 
sl^ng  over  their  shoulders  in  the  hammocks.  The  Dew- 
hursts  and  Isabel  were  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  party, 
which  soon  set  off  with  that  peculiar  absence  of  speech  that 
accompanies  early  morning  and  empty  stomachs. 
17* 


394  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

The  prisoners  had  additional  reasons  for  silence  in  their 
apprehensions  and  in  wondering  why  the  captain's  orders 
were  thus  disobeyed.  Mr.  Dewharst  was  wellnigh  discour- 
aged at  the  fresh  change,  and  at  groping  in  the  dark  for 
understanding  ;  but  he  only  hugged  his  pair  of  pistols,  and 
hoped  for  Hackett's  early  return. 

The  mate  was  not  with  them.  Carelessly  arrogant  as  he 
was,  he  thought  it  well  to  reconnoitre  the  ground  in  ad- 
vance' of  the  party's  arrival  ;  so  leaving  Markley  in  charge, 
he  had  gone  on  by  himself.  Everything  in  the  glen  had  an 
undisturbed  appearance,  showing  no  sign  of  the  visiJ|^tion 
of  the  night  before  ;  and  Arrowson  was  completely  deceived. 
he  waited  in  his  own  dwelling  for  the  arrival  of  the  band, 
employing  the  silent  opportunity  in  studying  out  a  course 
which  would  receive  their  support,  and  when  Markley 
reached  the  glen,  he  found  that  Arrowson  had  fresh  devil- 
try ready.  After  a  short  talk  together,  the  two  mates  sep- 
arated, and  strolling  about,  spoke  earnestly  and  low  with 
individuals  here  and  there. 

After  breakfast  was  over,  Arrowson  called  the  pirates 
together,  and  bade  them  follow  him.  He  led  them  down 
the  brook  to  the  beach  of  the  Haven,  and  there  made  a 
speech. 

"  I  wanted  you  to  come  down  'ere,  lads,  'cause  there's 
them  habove  'ad  best  not  'ear  what  I  'ad  to  say. 

"  You've  halhsailed  long  enough  with  Jim  Harrowson, 
my  'arties,  to  know  what  sort  of  a  chap  'e  is.  What  'e 
thinks  'e  speaks  hout  plain,  'e  does,  and  'e  don't  sneak 
around  watchin'  folk,  and  keepin'  'is  mouth  shet  tight  like 
a  hoyster,  like  some  as  'e  knows.  'E  don't  trade  with  'is 
friends  and  cheat  'em,  and  lay  hup  the  money.  'E's  afeard 
'e  might  take  the  schooner  and  go  hoff  some  time,  and  for- 
get to  come  back  hany  more,  like  a  bloody  dog,  and  go 
'ome,  and  be  a  big  bug  on  'is  money,  and  leave  'is  hoW 
brothers  to  'old  the  bag.  'E  don't  work  men  nigh  to  death, 
while  he  shirks  and  gets  rich  'isself.  'E  never  'andcufFs 
nobody  down  in  a  chair.     'E  don't  shet  down  on  the  grog. 


A   STORY  OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  395 

'E  goes  for  a  good  time,  and  for  men  that  works  'avin'  hall 
.the  money,  and  liquor,  and  women,  and  fandangoes  and 
fun,  they  wants.     That's  Jim  Harrowson,  my  'arties." 

The  gang  had  been  listening  intently  and  silently,  even 
those  to  whom  English  was  strange  seeming  to  try  to  read 
the  mate's  meaning  in  his  face.  They  were  a  wild  party, 
standing  there  so  still  in  their  gaudy  dress,  armed,  whis- 
kered, and  with  every  sign  of  villainy  in  their  looks,  as 
they  glanced  at  one  another. 

The  mate  commenced  again  with  a  lie.  "  But  I  never 
called  you  down  'ere  to  tell  you  that.  I  wanted  to  say 
sommat  about  the  hingots  and  stones  in  our  box." 

The  audience  showed  suddenly  a  new  and  stronger  at- 
tention, leaning  forward,  and  crowding  up  closer.  "  We 
hain't  none  of  hus  seen  that  box  in  a  good  spell.  Maybe 
somebody  might  dig  it  hup  and  carry  it  hoff.  I  want  to 
make  sure  it's  hall  right.  I  think  it's  too  far  from  the 
quarters.  I'm  going  to  send  for  it,  and  fetch  it  'ome,  and 
keep  it  'ereafter  where  we  can  hall  see  it,  and  know  it's  safe. 
That's  what  I  wanted  to  say,  my  'arties.  Who  goes  in  the 
boat  with  Markley  ? "  •  . 

Such  was  Arrowson's  address  without  its  profanity,  and 
it  had  a  powerful  effect.  Its  allusions  were  perfectly  under- 
stood, its  substance  was  quickly  explained  to  those  who  did 
not  understand  English,  and  in  another  minute  the  whole 
party  was  volunteering.  Those  who  were  still  friendly  to 
Hackett,  saw  that  it  was  prudent  to  dissemble,  and  they 
offered  their  services  with  the  rest. 

The  mate  picked  out  four  stout  fellows  to  go  with 
Markley,  giving  them  orders  which  sounded  more  like  ad- 
vice, to  take  the  boat  which  had  been  left  on  the  beach  on 
the  morning  preceding,  at  the  time  of  Hartley's  escape,  and 
to  start  for  the  key  as  soon  as  possible.  The  five  left  with- 
out delay,  entering  the  woods  to  reach  the  boat  by  a  short 
cut  across  with  which  tl^ey  were  familiar.  The  rest  of  the 
gang  stayed  awhile,  talking  excitedly  in  various  language 
and  then  went  up  the  brook  toward  the  quarters.     A' 


396  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

son  let  them  alone,  satisfied  to  let  the  leaven  of  treachery- 
work.  He  was  more  than  satisfied,  for  he  felt  that  his 
influence  had  been  increased,  and  while  he  was  putting  his 
genuine  suspicion  of  Hackett  to  the  test,  he  had  taken  a 
step  nearer  a  position  in  which  he  would  be  able  safely  to 
glut  his  hatred  and  his  lust. 

The  boat  started  about  the  time  the  Flying  Fish  got 
the  sea-breeze,  after  she  had  lain  becalmed  off  the  key,  and 
Hartley  had  made  his  morning  visit.  While  the  pirates 
aj)proached  the  sand  islet,  the  sloop  was  leaving  it  in  the 
opposite  direction  in  chase  of  the  merchant  schooner,  and 
neither  saw  the  other. 

That  day  was  passed  by  the  Dewhursts  in  the  eimui 
and  wearing  anxiety,  which  had  not  become  less  in  the  short 
time  in  which  they  had  been  on  shore.  Had  Hackett  re- 
mained with  them,  they  doubtless  would  have  felt  more 
weariness  and  less  apprehension  ;  the  mate's  conduct  had 
precisely  the  opposite  effect.  Only  forty-eight  hours  had 
passed  since  they  had  been  conducted  blindfold  up  the 
brook,  and  thus  with  all  secrecy  introduced  into  the  glen, 
without  ever  having  seen  the  Haven  or 'the  shores  around, 
or  having  any  idea  where  they  were ;  yet  that  little  time  had 
produced  a  great  effect  upon  them  all.  Mr.  Dewhurst  lost 
his  self-control,  and  let  the  women  see  his  worst  fears  ;  Mrs. 
Dewhurst  wept,  and  prayed  to  her  God  for  a  deliverance 
more  speedy  than  was  due  her  weak  faith  ;  and  the  girls 
dropped  their  well-maintained  deception  of  gayety  and  ease, 
for  the  pitiable  truth  of  terror  and  expectation. 

At  five  in  the  afternoon  the  boat  party  returned  from 
the  key  without  the  plunder  for  jvhich  they  had  gone, 
fagged  out  by  the  long  row  in  the  sun,  sulky  and  angry. 
When  they  appeared  in  the  glen  there  was  an  immediate 
bustle  and  assembling  of  the  others,  who  plied  the  returned 
men  with  questions.  Until  Arrowson  came,  they  got  only 
short  and  sour  replies. 

To  him  Big  Ben  reported  ip  substance,  that  they  had 
reached  the  key  ^t  qoon,  and  had  gone  straight  to  the  place 


A    STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN  NAVY.  397 

where  the  treasure  had  been  buried.  Having  forgotten  to 
take  spades,  they  carried  along  their^  oars  instead.  The 
sand  looked  as  if  it  had  been  lately  disturbed,  and  there  were 
tracks  all  around.  They  had  dug  down  with  the  oars,  and 
had  found  that  the  box  was  gone.  Then  they  tried  to 
follow  the  tracks  but  had  found  so  many,  indicating  that  a 
considerable  party  had  been  on  the  island,  that  they  had 
become  confused. 

When  Markley  had  finished  his  brief  recital,  the  whole 
band  remained  for  a  minute  motionless  and  speechless,  as 
if  stupefied.  Then  each  man,  bursting  into  imprecation, 
looked  at  his  neighbor  with  a  suspicion  in  which  was 
mingled  dread.  Each  suspected  the  rest:  each  sought  in- 
stinctively for  a  victim  :  each  feared  that  he  might  be  sus- 
spected  himself.  For  a  short  space,  that  was  a  curious 
spectacle  which  was  presented  by  the  gang.  Calling  them- 
selves brothers,  and  united  as  strongly  as  they  could  be  by 
the  tie  of  common  crime,  their  bond  of  union  was  proved 
in  that  hour  only  a  rope  of  sand.  In  the  fierceness  of  their 
sudden  passion  and  distrust,  each  seemed  ready  to  plunge 
his  knife  into  some  other's  body. 

But  presently  they  fell  to  talking,  questioning,  wonder- 
ing, uttering  the  deepest  maledictions,  and  swearing  the 
most  furious  oaths  of  a  dozen  tongues.  They  buzzed  like 
a  swarm  of  angry  hornets  disturbed  in  their  nest.  By 
degrees  the  name  of  the  captain  was  heard,  and  soon  the 
gang  had  again  swayed  close  together  around  the  mate, 
who  stood  in  their  midst,  the  image  of  sullen,  silent  malig- 
nancy. At  last  they  were  all  looking  at  him  in  their 
clamor. 

Arrowson  lifted  his  clenehed  hand  in  the  air  above  his 
head,  and  a  hush  fell  upon  them.  The  women  outside  the 
crowd  came  closer,  ceasing  their  shrill  clatter,  and  every 
eye  was  fixed  expectant  upon  him.  He  spoke  to  them  in  a 
rising  voice  like  the  growl  of  thunder.  "  What  ought  to 
be  done  to  the  man  that  took  it  ?  What  does  the  dog 
deserve  ?     How  shall  we  punish  him  ?  " 


398  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  Death  !  Death  to  the  traitor !  Death  to  the  cap- 
tain !  "  cried  they  in  answer. 

"  Aye — death  ! "  spoke  the  mate.  "  Will  you  swear 
it  ?  "  he  asked,  rising  to  his  full  height  and  glaring  upon 
them  like  a  fiend. 

"  Yes  !  We  swear  it  !  Death  to  the  traitor  !  death  to 
the  thief!  death  to  the  captain  !"  shouted  the  savages 
vindictively,  brandishing  knives  and  pistols  in  the  air. 

"  Who  has  done  it  ?  Who  took  it,  I  say  ?  "  demanded 
the  mate. 

"  The  captain,  the  captain." 

"  Aye — the  captain — aye.     Who  do  you  say  ?  " 

"  The  captain  !  "  yelled  the  chorus  in  unison. 

"  Aye,  and  he  shall  die  for  it.  Sharpen  your  knives,  and 
load  your  guns.  When  he  comes  back,' be  ready;  and  when 
I  give  the  w^ord,  kill  him,  and  the  sneaks  with  him,  like 
dogs." 

"  Death  to  the  captain  !  Down  with  the  tyrant !  " 
roared  the  gang. 

Arrowson,  who  was  now  purple  in  the  face  from  fury, 
went  on  in  a  wild  strain,  denouncing  Hackett  with  horrid 
blasphemies,  and  still  further  inflaming  the  gang.  When 
he  got  tired,  or  when  his  wrath  hatli  spent  its  force,  he 
suddenly  stopped,  and  went  to  his  house,  followed  by  Mark- 
ley.  The  motley  and  bloodthirsty  crowd  kept  up  its  hoot- 
ing for  some  minutes  longer,  and  then  dispersed  among  the 
quarters. 

This  ominous  scene  was  watched  from  their  windows 
by  the  Dewhursts  and  Catarina,  with  feelings  that  can  better 
be  imagined  than  described.  Catarina,  half-crazed  with 
fright,  made  an  attempt  to  run  away  down  the  brook,  with 
some  wild  idea  of  watching  for  her  lover's  return  and 
warning  him.  She  was  rudely  seized,  and  shut  up  in  the 
same  house  with  the  Dewhursts.  "  Keep  a  good  lookout," 
said  Arrowson  to  the  men  he  had  put  on  guard.  "  Don't 
let  any  of  'em  slip  off.     We'll  need  'em  by  and  by,  maybe." 

At  dusk  the  men  Jackson  and  Peters  came  quietly  into 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  399' 

the  glen.  They  were  known,  or  suspected,  to  be  employed 
privately  by  Hackett,  which  would  have  been  enough  in 
itself  to  make  them  hated  :  but  now  they  were  looked  upon 
with  especial  suspicion.  Their  arrival  was  reported  to  the 
mates,  who  at  once  went  out  to  the  fire,  by  which  the  new 
comers  w*ere  standing.  The  pirates  seeing  Arrowson  go 
out,  left  their  houses,  and  rushed  together  around  the  two 
men  with  an  avidity  which  boded  them  no  good.  They 
gathered  in  a  ring  about  the  mate  and  the  spies. 

Arrowson  asked  Jackson  where  he  had  been,  and  what 
he  had  been  doing.  Jackson  had  a  story  about  Olozaga, 
and  business  with  the  priest,  all  ready  and  pat.  The  mate 
listened  impatiently,  interrupting  with  incredulous  sneers, 
and  when  he  had  done,  asked  him  flatly  if  he  had  been  on 
the  key  during  his  absence.  Jackson  denied  it.  Then  the 
mate  put  the  same  question  to  Peters,  and  received  the 
same  answers.  He  continued  to  question  them,  browbeat- 
ing and  bullying,  as  if  hoping  to  force  them  into  some 
admission,  and  all  the  while  growing  angry.  At  last  he 
addressed  Jackson.  "  You  'ave  been  on  the  key,  and  *dug 
hup  the  box,  and  carried  it  hoff";  you  know  you  'ave." 

"  Oh,  no,  Captain  Arrowson,"  replied  the  spy,  with  a 
humble,  cringing  deprecation ;  "  ask  Peters.  I  haven't  been 
there  at  all,  sir."  ^  ^ 

"  You  lie,  you  dog !  "  thundered  Arrowson,  in  a  sudden 
frenzy,  striking  Jackson  in  the  face  with  his  fist. 

The  pirates  around  gave  a  yell,  and  threw  themselves 
like  a  pack  of  wolves  on  the  unfortunate  men.  In  five 
seconds  their  bodies,  riddled  with  stabs,  lay  lifeless  on  the 
ground.  The  slayers,  unappeased  by  so  speedy  a  vengeance, 
swarmed  over  them,  and  struggled  for  the  near  places ; 
while  for  a  minute  longer  they  continued  to  cut  and  stab 
the  corpses.  They  suddenly  drew  all  off  at  once,  and  re- 
treated, muttering,  to  their  houses,  leaving  the  two  bodies 
BO  mutilated  as  to  be  unrecognizable.     ' 

Arrowson,  who  had  taken  no  more  part  in  the  massacre 
than  to  look  on  in  ferocious  enjoyment,  ordered  the  dead 


400  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Spies  to  be  thrown  in  the  Haven,  and  went  back  to  his 
house,  remarking  by  the  way  to  Markley,  that  he  "  was 
afraid  they  had  served  out  those  chaps  too  soon,  they  ought 
to  have  starved  them  awhile  first,  to  see  if  they  really  knew 
anything  about  the  box." 

A  few  minutes  afterward  Markley  reappeared,  and  col- 
lected a  party  of  eight  or  ten  of  the  strongest  men  in  the 
gang,  and  had  each  provide  himself  with  a  stout  lever. 
Branches  of  trees  and  pieces  of  firewood  from  the  pile  near 
the  great  kettle  served  their  purpose.  The  party  then 
went  over  on  the  hill-side  to  the  big  bowlder  that  was  one 
of  the  marks  in  the  schooner's  range,  and  laboriously  pried 
it  three  feet  away  from  its  old  position  further  to  the  south. 
This  was  done  by  Arrowson's  direction,  with  a  view^,  of 
course,  to  wreck  the  schooner.  The  stone  moved,  the  party 
returned  ;  and  the  usual  lookout  kept  for  La  Hembrilla  at 
sea,  was  sent  to  the  station. 

Arrowson  had  hesitated  about  taking  measures  to  sink 
the  schooner.  He  did  not  like  to  destroy  her,  for  she  was 
fast,  :and  well  adapted  to  his  purposes  in  all  other  respects, 
but  he  was  decided  thereto  by  two  reflections — that  per- 
haps Hackett  would  be  drowned,  and  himself  relieved 
from  the  necessity  of  fighting  a  man,  whom,  in  his  cow- 
ardly heart  he  still  feared ;  and  that  in  case  Hackett  did 
get  ashore  again,  it  w^ould  be  best  for  him  to  have  no 
retreat.  Arrowson  dreaded  the  captain's  keenness  and 
readiness  for  emergencies,  as  well  as  his  courage,  strength 
of  hand,  and  quickness  of  eye. 

That  night  the  band  held  orgies.  The  unhappy  pris- 
oners lay  awake  long,  listening  to  the  noise  of  the  drunken 
revellers,  and  preparing  in  difi*erent  ways,  for  the  diflTer- 
ent  dooms  they  now  thought  themselves  likely  to  meet  at 
any  Jiour. 


A   STOKT   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVT.  4.01 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

HACKETT  ran  La  Hembrilla  ofF  southeast,  and,  before 
the  Fish  was  clear  of  the  river,  had  got  out  of  sight. 
When  he  felt  well  assured  of  that,  he  changed  the  course 
to  the  southward,  steering  toward  Isla  Bella. 

He  left  the  Haven  with  so  heavy  a  heart  that  the  easy- 
success  of  his  little  stratagem  had  now  no  power  to  cheer 
him.  He  was  too  anxious  to  think  about  it,  too  much  dis- 
tracted to  plan  in  his  usual  cool  foreseeing  manner.  All 
that  he  could  think  of  was  that  he  was  exposing  Catarina 
to  danger,  with  every  hour  he  left  her  in  the  mate's  hands, 
and  that  delay  in  getting  his  informers  on  board  made  it 
possible  that  the  gang  would  discover  the  removal  of  their 
box.  Saving  the  prisoners  was  a  secondary  but  a  strong 
consideration.  He  did  not  mean  to  abandon  tliem  if  he 
could  avoid  it ;  for  now  that  he  had  resolved  to  quit  his 
evil  ways,  deeds  of  blood  had  become  more  repugnant 
than  ever.  The  idea  of  leaving  the  young  women  to  the 
fate  waiting  for  them  was  painful  to  him.  But  with  all 
his  dread  of  the  consequences  of  staying  away,  he  could 
not  as  yet  make  up  his  mind  to  go  back.  His  natural 
caution,  fostered  by  early  education  and  increased  by  the 
later  years  of  a  life  of  vigilance  and  danger,  held  him  back 
like  an  iron  hand.  He  could  not  risk  a  meeting  with  the 
Fish ;  he  could  not  give  her  any  chance  to  hurt  the 
schooner,  his  only  retreat.  As  well  run  alongside  the 
cruiser  and  surrender,  as  to  trust  himself  on  shore  with  no 
way  of  escaping,  for  sooner  or  later  the  gang  would  rise 
and  kill  him. 

He  would  not  risk  a  meeting  with  the  sloop,  though  he 
saw  with  a  tormenting  clearness  of  apprehension,  how  very 
necessary  it  was  for  him  to  return  without  delay.  He 
thought  that  if  he  could  get  back  undetected  it  would  be 
easy,  between   carrying  things   with   a   high   hand,  and 


402  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

allaying  suspicions,  to  get  the  prisoners  on  board,  with 
Oatarina  and  the  spies,  and  take  a  sudden  leave.  Never 
once  did  it  occur  to  this  singular  man  to  do  what  would 
have  been  Arrowson's  first  thought — get  the  treasure, 
abandon  everything  else,  and  go. 

In  truth,  Hackett  was  never  meant  by  nature  for  a 
pirate,  for  he  had  a  heart,  and  even  now  at  forty,  the  re- 
mains of  a  conscience.  Accident  first  put  him  into  the 
nefarious  life,  cupidity  helped  to  retain  him,  and  his  im- 
practicable scheme  for  bettering  the  manner  of  carrying  on 
the  business,  joined  to  the  difficulty  of  getting  away,  had 
bound  him  fast.  He  had  too  many  of  the  domestic  and 
social  traits  to  make  him  fitted  for  his  lawless  occupation* 
or  to  let  him  be  at  peace  therein. 

The  result  of  the  opposite  forces  acting  on  his  mind, 
was  naturally  a  compromise.  When  he  got  twenty  or 
thirty  miles  off  the  coast,  he  was  so  fairly  balanced,  that 
he  hove  the  schooner  to  and  waited. 

Lying  inactive  in  this  manner  was  the  one  thing  which 
he  could  not  bear.  He  watched  for  the  Fish  until  three  in 
the  afternoon,  and  finally  concluded  that  she  had  either 
gone  on  to  the  eastward  in  a  vain  chase,  or  else  had, failed 
to  leave  the  Cobre  at  all,  not  having  seen  his  sudden  flight ; 
and  that  he  might  safely  venture  back. 

He  started  back  with  the  intention  of  running  into  the 
Haven,  but  he  soon  saw  the  unwisdom  of  the  plan.  It  gave 
the  mate  too  good  a  chance  to  retain  him  against  his  will, 
for  one  thing.  He  was  too  weak-handed  to  sweep  the 
schooner  out  through  the  gauntlet  of  the  narrow  entrance, 
in  case  Arrowson  chose  to  guard  it  ;  and  he  knew  that  he 
would  in  all  probability  have  to  depend  upon  the  sweeps,  for 
the  Haven  was  a  pitlike  place  in  which  the  wind  could 
seldom  blow.  Beside,  for  what  he  knew,  the  cruiser  might 
have  left  a  party  on  shore  on  purpose  to  let  him  enter,  and 
cut  off  his  retreat.  All  the  while  his  mind  grew  clearer 
and  easier  as  the  miles  of  blue  water  slipped  away  behind 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMEEICAN   NAVY.  4:03 

the  swift  schooner,  and  as  he  felt  that  he  was  returning  to 
action,  to  be  near  Catarina,  to  secure  the  treasure. 

He  resolved  to  begin  the  attempt  by  stealth,  prepared 
to  finish  it  by  force  and  authority  if  needful.  He  would 
first  see  if  the  sloop-of-war  lay  in  the  river.  If  not,  he 
would  run  up  the  stream  as  quietly  as  possible,  and  anchor 
abreast  the  bridge.  There  he  would  be  concealed  from  the 
gang,  and  secure  from  th6  suspicions  of  the  cruiser,  whose 
absence  would  indicate  that  she  was  still  searching  for  him 
in  the  southeast.  He  would  take  all  his  men  across  to  the 
bridge  encampment  through  the  Woods  ;  and  if  there  were 
a  chance,  he  would  get  the  persons  he  wanted  away  and  on 
board  the  schooner  by  stealth.  He  knew  that  Arrowson 
was  careless  at  all  times,  and  expected  that  he  would  be 
doubly  negligent  while  insubordinate.  Then  the  gang 
would  probably  be  sleeping  soundly,  tired  by  another  day's 
labor  at  transportation.  If  his  presence  were  discovered, 
he  would  have  ten  well-armed  ready  men  on  hand  to  sup- 
port him  against  the  surprised  band,  five  or  six  of  whom 
he  was  sure  were  friendly  to  him.  With  a  dash  and  a 
bold  front,  he  could  scatter  the  crowd  into  the  woods,  and 
before  they  recovered,  could  get  away  with  the  people  he 
wanted.  "  Once  let  me  get  'em  in  the  schooner,"  he 
thought,  "  and  Arrowson  may  whistle  for  me.  Musketry 
won't  stop  me  from  going  down  the  river,  and  they've  got 
no  boats." 

While  he  thought  and  planned,  he  kept  La  Hembrilla 
over  to  the  westward,  so  as  to  approach  the  river  from 
that  side,  and  make  it  unlikely  he  would  be  seen  by  any 
lookout  the  mate  might  keep,  or  by  the  cruiser  in  case  she 
still  lay  in  the  Cobre.  He  got  the  land  breeze  at  nine 
o'clock,  being  then  below  the  horizon  southwest  of  the 
river-mouth,  stood  over  to  the  Cobre  at  once,  looked  in, 
saw  nothing  of  the  ship,  and  entered  boldly.  The  breeze 
was  fresh  and  favorable.  La  Hembrilla  ran  up  fast,  and 
as  each  hundred  yards  was  left  behind,  the  captain  breathed 
more  freely,  to  think  he  was  still  undiscovered.     As  he 


404:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

had  expected,  the  mate  had  not  posted  any  lookout  on 
the  creek.  He  knew  it,  for  such  a  one  would  have  been 
sure  to  hail.  After-  the  creek  was  passed  he  felt  almost 
gleeful.  Arrowson  would  have  had  a  guard  there  if  any- 
where on  the  river. 

He  was  now  so  sure,  that  he  relaxed  a  little,  and  ven- 
tured to  set  the  flying-jib,  so  as  to  give  the  schooner  better 
way  through  the  water,  and  insure  her  going  about 
promptly  around  the  point  above.  He  had  taken  her  up 
the  river  before,  and  knew  that  the  swift  current  setting 
around  the  point  made  it  rather  a  bad  place  for  tacking. 
The  men  on  board  knew  it,  too,  and  were  all  waiting  at 
their  stations  before  the  schooner  reached  the  place. 

In  their  interest  and  slight  excitement,  their  attention 
was  fixed  upon  their  own  movements ;  so  when  La  Hem- 
brilla  shot  past  the  point  into  the  swift  current  that  swept 
around  it,  no  one  saw  the  silent  sloop-of-war  which  lay  so  near. 
An  idea  struck  Hackett,  that  it  would  be  better,  instead  of 
going  about  in  the  rush  of  the  current,  to  stand  on  into  the 
comparatively  dead  water  of  the  cove,  where  staying  would 
be  a  certainty,  and  w^hence  one  long  stretch  would  carry 
the  schooner  through  the  reach  above ;  so  he  delayed 
putting  down  the  helm,  which  he  had  taken  into  his  own 
hands.  The  njen  were  surprised  at  that,  and  looked  at 
him  instead  of  elsewhere.  They  ran  into  the  cove,  and 
went  about  so  near  the  shore,  that  the  flying  jib-boom 
almost  brushed  the  drooping  branches  of  the  trees.  This 
left  the  sloop  behind  them,  and  gave  the  men  still  more  to 
notice  at  home  ;  while  Hackett,  usually  so  quick  to  see  all, 
was  absorbed  in  his  duty  of  helmsman.  The  schooner 
actually  had  her  sheets  trimmed  on  the  other  tack,  before 
a  soul  on  board  saw  the  sloop. 

Hackett,  startled  as  he  was,  almost  by  instinct  pursued 
the  only  course  left  him..  He  saw  that  he  had  not  room  to 
turn,  while  a  hundred  yards  above  the  river  was  wide; 
and  he  was  sure  the  man-of-war  could  not  clear  away  her 
battery  in  time  to  stop  him  on  his  quick  return.     His  crew 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  405 

were  silent  with  dismay,  as  they  were  borne  smoothly  past 
the  unforeseen  foe. 

The  pirate  captain,  cool  as  an  iceberg  and  steady  as  a 
mountain  after  his  first  shock  of  surprise,  scrutinized  the 
Fish  with  closest  attention  as  he  passed.  His  eye  ran 
keenly  along  her  rail,  for  above  it  he  expected  to  seethe 
head  of  the  officer  who  would  give  the  alarm.  Thanks  to 
Garnet's  forethought,  there  was  nobody  in  sight.  A 
second  incredulous  searching  gaze,  convinced  Hackett  that 
he  was  unseen  ;  the  man-of-war  was  asleep. 

"  I  am  darned  !  •'  was  his  mental  exclamation.  "  I 
never  saw  such  a  cruiser.  I  believe  I  could  go  alongside, 
and  whitewash  her,  and  none  of  'em  would  know  it  before 
eight  bells  to-morrow  morning."  He  quickly  changed  his 
mind  about  going  back,  resolving  to  stick  to  his  first 
intention  and  go  on  up  the  river.  So  he  steered  the 
schooner  straight  on  up  the  reach,  to  the  intense  wonder 
of  his  men,  all  the  while  listening  intently  for  any  sign 
that  he  had  been  seen.  When  they  tacked  again,  and 
stood  out  of  sight  around  the  point  above,  he  was  perfectly 
sure  he  had  not  been  noticed.  "  By  thunder  I "  said  he 
aloud,  as  he  wiped  the  sweat  off  his  brow,  and  relinquished 
the  helm  to  one  of  the  men  ;  "  that  was  the  biggest  fool 
thing,  and  the  cutest  trick  I  ever  done  in  my  life."  He 
went  on  as  if  thinking  aloud.  "  But  that  was  tarnation 
smart  in  them  tellers — hidin'  up  there — if  they  hadn't 
gone  to  sleep.  I  never  give  'em  credit  for  so  much  sense. 
But  heow  in  thunder  did  they  ever  get  that  heavy  ship 
around  the  point." 

Without  waiting  to  puzzle  about  that,  he  ran  La  Hem- 
brilla  about  two  hundred  yards  further  on  and  dropped 
her  anchor  off  the  next  point,  in  a  favorable  place  for  get- 
ting under  way  quickly.  The  head  sails  and  gaff-topsails 
were  quietly  hauled  down,  the  foresail  and  mainsail  left 
standing,  and  then  Hackett  called  all  his  men  aft,  and 
explained  his  plan. 

"  Boys,  I've  said  nothin'  to  you  about  it,  for  you  have 


406  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

been  able  to  see  as  much  as  me.  Our  band  is  all  broke  up. 
Arrowson  has  got  every  Dago,  and  Greaser,  and  nigger 
against  me,  and  he  means  to  serve  me  out  along  with  them 
that  stay  friendly  to  me. 

"  There's  forty-six  men,  all  told,  in  the  band  since  that 
boy  Cato  left.  Three  was  sent  to  pass  the  word  when  the 
navy  officer  got  off  the  other  night — that's  forty-three. 
We  are  eleven  of  us  here,  and  all  good  men.  Jackson  and 
Peters  are  ashore — that's  thirteen.  Jones,  how  many  more 
will  side  with  us  ?  " 

The  man  addressed  began  to  count  on  his  fingers:  Nils 
Olsen,  Jan  Olsen,  Got  Bauerman,  Jerry  Mason,  and  maybe 
Kelly  and  Sims." 

"  Well,  split  the  difference  and  call  it  five.  Eighteen 
of  us,  and  most  every  white  man  in  the  band.  Most  every 
American,  and  Englishman,  and  North  Countryman  in  the 
band.  Nigh  all  the  rest  Dagos  and  Greasers.  Eighteen 
of  us,  and  twenty-five  of  them.  I  think  we  can  lick  'em, 
boys." 

"  I  can  whale  any  two  Dagos  myself.  The  niggers  is 
purty  stout,"  said  the  man  he  had  addressed. 

"  Wa-a-a-1,"  drawled  Hackett,  as  unconcernedly  as  if  he 
were  stating  a  very  trifling  thing  ;  "  we're  goiu'  over  to 
the  bridge,  boys,  and  maybe  we'll  have  to  lick  the  whole 
bakin  of  'era  before  we  get  back.  Get  your  knives,  and 
three  or  four  pistols  apiece,  and  lower  tlie  boats  as  quick  's 
you  can." 

"  What  about  that  cruiser,  cap'n  ?  "  asked  one  of  the 
men  in  a  very  dubious  tone. 

"  He'll  keep,"  chuckled  Hackett.  "  None  of  you  saw  a 
livin'  soul  on  his  deck,  did  you  ?  They're  restin',  and  I'm 
thinkin'  that  before  they  wake  w^e'll  be  out  o'  this,  and  off 
to  sea  wnth  our  shippies.  I  guess  we  all  know  where's  a 
bit  of  a  box  we'll  stop  and  git,  too,  if  Arrowson  ain't  been 
too  quick  for  us." 

The  men  were  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  excitement 
which  Hackett  held  out  to  them,  and  they  were  more  than 


A  STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  407 

pleased  to  think  of  stealing  the  hoard  which  Hackett  so 
slyly  held  out  as  a  bait.  That  settled  their  determination 
finally. 

"  Any  of  you  want  to  take  your  gals  ?  "  asked  Hackett. 
Only  one  man  answered  yes — a  German  who  had  a  Spanish 
mistress,  to  whom  he  was  attached.  The  rest  verified  by 
their  silence  the  old  saying  of  sailors  finding  a  wife  in 
every  port.  It  would  be  easier  to  get  new  ones  than  to 
take  the  old  ones  away. 

"  Well,  Franklin,  you  can  fetch  her.  Now,  boys,  get 
armed  quick,  and  let's  make  a  start." 

In  a  short  time  the  whole  party  were  pulling  on  shore 
in  the  dingy  and  the  remaining  boat.  They  landed,  and 
stood  ready  to  follow  their  captain.  They  were  the  pick 
of  the  band  for  size  and  stature,  and  with  their  belts  full  of 
pistols,  they  were  a  formidable  looking  little  force. 

Hackett  stopped  long  enough  to  explain  his  intentions 
briefly.  We'll  go  over  to  the  bridge,  boys.  Jones  and 
Franklin  go  in  with  me,  the  rest  stop  outside  in  the  brush 
till  I  call.  If  I  call,  you  must  scatter  and  run  in  whoopin' 
like  there  was  ten  thousand  of  you,  and  shoot  around  lively. 
Don't  wait  if  you  hear  me  call,  and  don't  pull  a  trigger  till 
the  muzzle  is  against  a  man. 

"  But  I'm  goin'  to  try  to  get  the  prisoners  and  our 
boys  awake  and  away,  without  stirrin'  the  rest.  Arrow- 
son  won't  have  any  watch,  and  if  anybody  sees  us  movin' 
about,  they'll  think  we  belong  there.  I'll  call  the  prisoners 
and  my  wife.  Jones,  you  wake  Jackson  and  Peters,  and 
send  'em  right  down  to  to  the  boat.  Franklin,  you  call 
your  gal,  and  the  rest  of  our  fellows.  Come  on,  and  keep 
quiet  now." 

They  started  in  single  file  without  speaking,  through 
the  woods  half-lighted  by  the  setting  moon. 

It  is  needless  to  say,  that  Hackett  did  not  speak  his 
mind  out  clearly  to  the  men.  He  cared  for  nothing  but 
his  own  results,  and  so  he  attained  them,  was  ready  to 
abandon  all   the   men   with   him,  as   well   as   those   who 


408  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

remained  faithful  on  shore.  In  fact,  he  would  very  much 
have  preferred  to  start  to  New  Orleans,  with  only  the 
Dewhursts,  Jackson,  Peters,  and  himself,  to  sail  the 
schooner.  He  could  get  along  after  a  fashion  with  that 
little  force,  and  it  would  enable  him  to  take  the  treasure 
with  him.  If  he  got  away  with  others  on  board,  he  would 
have  to  leave  it  behind,  or  else  divide  it  among  all.  His 
secret  idea  now  was  to  go  just  as  soon  as  he  got  aboard 
with  the  persons  he  wanted,  and  leave  those  behind  who 
happened  to  be  late  in  getting  to  the  river  bank.  This 
was  not  as  cold-hearted  as  it  seemed,  for  he  knew  they 
could  all  make  their  escape  in  the  night,  and  join  other 
bands. 

He  meant  to  run  out  of  the  river  at  once,  feeling  posi- 
tive that  the  Flying  Fish  would  not  have  time  to  prepare 
for  firing  while  the  schooner  ran  past  her  from  the  point 
above.  Once  past,  he  would  be  perfectly  safe :  it  would 
take  the  ship  at  least  half  an  hour  to  get  ready  to  follow, 
and  in  that  time,  with  anything  like  a  good  br6eze,  he 
would  be  out  of  sight. 

All  this  Hackett  turned  over  in  his  busy  head,  as  the 
party  wound  through  the  woods.  They  knew  the  direction 
in  which  lay  the  bridge,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  getting 
over  the  half  mile. 

Arriving  at  the  edge  of  the  circle,  Hackett  motioned 
the  party  to  cover,  and,  taking  Franklin  and  Jones,  crossed 
the  creek,  and  made  a  detour  so  as  to  enter  the  circle 
from  the  opposite  side,  behind  the  old  house.  The  moon 
was  down,  and  it  was  now  very  dark  among  the  trees. 
Hackett  whispered  to  his  followers,  to  wake  the  first  man 
they  came  to,  and  ask  where  Jackson  and  Peters  had 
swung  their  hammocks.  Then  he  advanced  with  a  light 
tread  to  the  old  house,  and,  softly  opening  the  door, 
entered  the  room  he  had  assigned  to  the  prisoners.  He 
had  brought  a  small  dark  lantern  along,  with  his  habitual 
foresight,  expecting  to  use  it  in  this  very  place.  Now  he 
lifted  the  slide  a  little,  and  let  out  a  bar  of  light.     Moving 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY..  409 

the  lantern  slowly,  he  searched  over  the  floor  with  the  ray. 
He  found  nothing.  Then  he  lifted  the  slide  higher,  and 
tried  it  again :  the  same  result.  He  drew  out  the  slide 
entirely,  letting  the  full  light  shine  into  the  apartment, 
and  he  saw  that  it  was  empty.  For  a  moment  he  stood 
stupefied  ;  then  he  was  filled  with  fears  for  Catarina  ;  then, 
returning  to  his  common-place  practicalness,  he  replaced 
the  slide,  and  left  the  house  to  look  outside.  He  walked 
down  to  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  strained  his  eyes  in 
the  darkness  to  see  the  hammocks  swung  among  the  trees ; 
and  presently  he  heard  steps  on  the  bridge,  and  the  voice 
of  Jones  saying : 

**  Cap'n,  they've  cleared  out !  " 

Hackett  could  not  believe  it  at  first  ;  but  alter  he  had 
walked  around  the  place  with  his  lantern  open,  he  had  to 
yield  to  his  senses.  "  The  darned  fool ! "  he  exclaimed. 
"  What  does  Arrowson  mean  by  going  back  to  the  quar- 
ters now  ?  The  cruiser  '11  nab  the  whole  gang."  A  sud- 
den train  of  ideas  sprang  into  his  mind,  suggested  by  his 
own  words.  He  thought,  "  The  cruiser  hasn't  sent  in  yet 
— her  position  proves  it.  I'll  run  by  her,  and  if  I'm  not 
seen,  I'll  heave  to  outside,  and  send  the  boats  in  on  the 
beach,  and  warn  the  gang  to  clear  out,  that  a  party  is  right 
on  them.  My  coming  on  them  suddenly  in  that  way,  with  a 
warning. and  with  authority,  will  at  once  dispose  them  well 
toward  me  and  overawe  them.  I  can  take  advantage  of 
the  confusion,  and  get  my  folks  all  away.  Even  if  the 
cruiser  sees  me,  I  may  be  able  to  lead  her  oflT  and  dodge 
her — but  then  she  won't  try  to  follow  me  at  all  on  such  a 
night  as  this."  He  started  back  immediately  in  the 
greatest  haste,  calling  on  the  men  to  come  along.  They 
followed  him  as  fast  as  they  could  in  the  darkness,  and  in 
a  very  short  time  they  were  all  back  on  board  the  schooner. 

Without  waiting  to  weigh  the  anchor,   the^  headsails 
and  gaff-topsails  were  hoisted,  the  square  topsail  set,  the 
cable  cut,  the  vessel  cast,  and  they  were  quickly  standing 
down  the  river. 
18 


410  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

The  pirate,  though  hoping  and  believing  that  his  luck 
would  again  take  him  past  the  ship  unseen,  prepared  as 
if  he  were  going  by  under  the  fire  of  her  guns.  There 
wa§  little  to  do.  He  simply  sent  his  men  below  after  they 
had  trimmed  the  sheets  on  rounding  the  point  above  the 
ship,  and  took  the  helm  himself. 

The  schooner  sailed  smoothly  with  the  current  down 
the  gloomy  river.  Never  had  it  looked  so  narrow  to 
Hackett  before,  as  now  while  he  stood  at  the  helm.  In 
the  darkness,  the  trees  on  the  bank  seemed  to  approach 
each  other,  and  the  indistinct  hull  of  the  man-of-war, 
appeared  to  fill  up  the  channel.  He  closely  scanned  the 
black  mass  as  he  approached  it,  and  with  high  satisfaction 
to  see  no  light  and  to  hear  from  it  no  sound. 

Smoothly  and  fast  the  schooner  neared  the  ship,  and 
still  there  was  no  noise,  no  unwelcome  hail,  no  person  to 
be  seen  on  her  deck.  At  last — it  seemed  a  long  time  to 
him — she  reached  her,  the  bows  were  abreast,  the  fore- 
masts passed  each  other. 

"  Commence  firing  !  "  commanded  a  loud  voice  from 
the  spar-deck  of  the  sloop-of-war.  A  long  red  tongue  of 
flame  darted  from  the  side  of  the  dead  vessel.  The  stun- 
ning boom  of  a  great  gun  came  with  it,  there  was  a  crash 
of  splinters,  and  the  schooner  trembled  to  the  concussion 
of  a  round  shot.  Another  followed,  then  another,  then 
several  nearly  together,  every  shot  striking  the  hull  of  the 
devoted  vessel.  Loud  voices  followed  in  command. 
"  Sponge  !  Load  I  Look  alive  with  the  port-fires  !  Bear 
a  hand,  marines !  "  and  as  La  Hembrilla  still  glided  on,  a 
bright  light  suddenly  filled  the  air. 

Hackett  turning  to  face  the  ship  clearly  visible  now  on 
his  starboard  quarter,  shook  his  clenched  fist  at  her,  and 
shouted  defiantly,  "Aye,  fire  away,  you  damned  cowards! 
One  man  against  a  ship — but  you  haven't  got  me  yet ! 
Fire-" 

His  voice  was  drowned  in  a  volley  of  musketry,  and  a 
gust  of  bullets  pattered   on  the  water    and   struck  the 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  411 

schooner.  "  On  deck,  men  !  "  roared  Hackett.  "  On  deck 
and  jibe  her  1  '*  The  pirates  darted  up  obedient,  swearing 
wildly.  Still  the  schooner  ran  on,  as  though  she  bore  a 
charmed  life.  She  reached  the  point,  her  helm  was  put 
over,  her  sails  jibed,  and  she  stood  on  down  the  river. 
From  the  ship,  Hackett  heard  at  intervals  the  thundering 
orders  of  the  first  lieutenant.  "  Hoist  away  the  headsails, 
fore  topsail,  topgaln't  sail,  and  royal !  Sheets  to  the  mark  ! 
Slip  the  cable  1  walk  away  with  the  spring !"  He  heard 
the  short  rattle  of  running  chain,  and  directly  the  sloop 
appeared  around  the  point  in  full  pursuit.  The  schooner 
had  less  than  half  a  mile  the  start. 

Hackett  had  by  this  time  regained  his  coolness.  He 
made  a  rapid  inspection  of  the  damage  done,  and  found  to 
his  joy  that  the  spars  were  unhurt  and  the  vessel  still  tight, 
though  several  shot  had  gone  through  her.  She  was  almost 
as  well  fit  for  sea  as  ever,  though  riddled  and  defaced,  and 
he  did  not  despair. 

But  the  ship  left  him  no  peace.  The  ominous  tongue  of 
flame  darted  again,  followed  by  its  heavy  boom,  this  time 
from  a  bow  gun,  and  a  shot  whistled  through  the  air. 
"  Never  mind,  lads  ;  the  stern  of  a  running  vessel  is  hard 
to  hit  on  a  dark  night,"  said  he,  with  a  laugh.  "Steady  as 
you  go,  Jones  !  " 

Another  boom,  another  harmless  whistling  shot  followed. 
"  I  care  a  darned  sight  more  for  them  stuusels  than  I  do 
for  the  guns,"  said  Hackett.  "  The  cruiser's  loftier' n  us, 
and  gets  the  wind  better  over  the  trees."  The  sloop  had 
just  set  all  her  starboard  studding-sails,  which  Hackett  had 
observed.     He  watched  her  closely. 

Boom!  went  another  gun,  and  the  shot  skipped  past  on 
the  water,  throwing  the  spray  on  her  deck.  "  Better,"  re- 
marked Hackett,  calmly;  "try  it  again."  Boom!  came 
his  answer,  this  time  completing  itself  by  a  sharp  crash  aloft, 
and  a  sound  of  splinters  falling  on  deck.  The  peak  of  the 
schooner's  mainsail  dropped,  and  her  gaff-topsail  fluttered 
loose  like  a  misshapen  banner.     "I  veow  !     This  won't  do. 


412  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Go  up  there,  Franklin,  and  let  me  know  what  was  hit." 
The  man  obeyed,  and  presently  he  sung  out  that  the  peak 
halliards  were  cut,  and  he  thought  the  gaff  was  struck. 
Hackett  knew  there  was  no  use  in  trying  to  repair  the 
injured  rope,  so  he  ordered  Franklin  to  stow  the  topsail, 
while  he  went  himself  to  get  a  new  rope,  which  could  be 
rove  as  peak  halliards.  By  the  time  he  had  it  ready,  he 
could  clearly  see  that  the  ship  had  gained  on  him  ;  and  two 
more  shots  came  whistling  by.  He  could  not  reeve  the  new 
halliards  without  lowering  the  gaff,  which  would  deprive 
them  of  that  part  of  the  mainsail  left  standing,  and  reduce 
the  schooner's  speed  still  more.  Seeing  that  he  had  nothing 
to  spare,  he  held  on,  hoping  against  hope  for  something  to 
free  him  from  the  persistent  and  gaining  enemy. 

By  this  time  La  Hembrilla  was  nearly  out  of  the  river. 
Hackett  knew  that  her  course  was  nearly  run,  unless  he 
could  get  her  into  the  Haven ;  for  otherwise  he  would  soon 
have  to  choose  between  surrendering  or  beaching  her.  With 
little  hope  of  a  reply,  he  had  the  usual  signal  to  light  up- 
the  range  burned.  To  his  surprise  and  joy,  the  green  light 
hardly  commenced  to  hiss,  before  he  saw  the  two  lanterns 
appear.  This  comforted  him  for  a  minute,  though  it  showed 
him  only  how  to  escape  from  one  enemy  into  the  hands  of 
another.  He  soon  gave  up  the  hope  of  even  the  poor 
chance  which  that  afforded.  The  ship  was  steadily  gain- 
ing, and  her  shot  were  coming  closer  as  she  did.  He  saw 
that  very  soon  he  must  run  ashore  or  lose  the  chance 
to  do  so. 

Closer  and  closer  crept  the  ship.  A  shot  entered  aft, 
and  travelled  nearly  through  the  wretched  schooner.  Still 
Hackett  held  on.  Nearer  came  the  ship.  She  was  now  so 
close  that  the  gurgle  of  the  water  under  her  bows  could  be 
heard.  Her  lofty  spars  towered  in  the  night  air  with  sail 
piled  on  sail.  Still  the  bow  guns  kept  up  alternately  their 
pitiless  flash  an,d  boom.  Shot  after  shot  struck  the  schooner's 
stern,  or  whistled  over  her  deck,  cutting  ropes  in  its  pas- 
sage, or  dashed  its  spray  on  the  fleeing  pirates.     Hackett 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  413 

Stood  manfully  to  his  course,  however,  until  the  ship  was 
within  two  hundred  yards,  and  his  men  began  to  insist  im- 
peratively on  his  beaching  the  schooner  and  giving  them  a 
chance  for  their  lives.  He  ordered  the  helm  put  over,  and 
the  schooner  had  begun  to  pay  around  toward  the  shore, 
when  suddenly  a  thrilling  cry  rang  the  air  from  the  deck 
of  the  pursuing  vessel.     "  Man  overboard  !  " 

In  an  instant  there  followed  a  thunder  of  commands  in 
a  voice  Hackett  remembered,  and  a  confusion  of  smaller 
sounds.  He  saw  the  chaser  swing  around  to  the  wind, 
with  her  studding-sails  flapping. 

"  Put  her  back  where  she  was — on  the  range,  Jones  ! 
That  saves  her ;  but  I'm  tarnation  afraid  she's  too  much 
shot  up  to  be  worth  saving."  The  little  schooner  resumed 
her  former  course,  and  it  seemed  to  Hackett  that  she  ran 
faster  as  he  breathed  more  freely.  -         ■  .  ^ 

But  his  troubles  were  not  over  yet.  Peering  ahead 
with  the  glass  in  his  usual  wary  manner,  it  seemed  to  him 
that  the  schooner  was  not  on  the  right  track.  He  had  so 
often  run  through  their  dangerous  water  path,  by  night 
and  by  day,  that  he  knew  that  particular  half  mile  wonder- 
fully well.  He  knew  in  what  directions  he  ought  to  hear 
the  washing  of  the  waves  on  certain  rocks ;  he  knew  how 
the  crest  of  the  hill  ought  to  bear.  He  seemed  to  have, 
just  there,  a  sixth  sense  which  marked  the  way  for  him 
by  many  signs.  To-night  something  seemed  wrong,  and 
it  did  not  take  him  long  to  suspect.  "  Jones,"  said  he, 
addressing  the  helmsman,  "  we're  too  nigh  in  shore," 

"There's  the  range,  captain." 

"  I  believe  that  devil  Arrowson  has  put  the  lamps  on 
wrong.  I  hear  the  surf  too  plain,  and  I  missed  the  wash 
on  the  big  flat  rock."  He  ran  toward  the  bows  with 
his  glass,  and  levelled  it.  It  revealed  an  obscure,  shapeless 
something  in  the  water,  not  fifty  yards  away.  "  Hard  a 
larboard  ! "  he  commanded,  with  a  quick  decision.  The 
schooner  responded  readily  to  her  helm,  and  just  in  time, 
for  as  she  passed  the  rock  her  bottom  grazed  its  sunken 


4:14:  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

part.  "  Hard  a  starboard  !  Steady  !  Steady  so  !  "  were 
then  the  orders.  The  helmsman  chose  a  star  in  line  with 
the  fore-rigging,  and  steered  the  schooner  by  it,  as  straight 
as  a  bullet  flies  through  the  air. 

After  the  last  peril,  they  reached  their  difficult  destination 
without  further  harm.  Lowering  the  sails  in  the  entrance, 
two  sweeps  were  manned,  and  the  vessel  slowly  propelled 
to  the  centre  of  the  basin,  where  her  anchor  was  dropped. 

The  pirates  along  the  shore,  attracted  to  the  beach  by 
the  firing,  watched  the  pursuit  with  eager  delight,  sure 
that  the  cruiser  was  about  to  capture  their  recreant  leader ; 
and  when  the  chase  was  so  suddenly  given  up,  they  con- 
tinued to  gaze  at  La  Hembrilla,  the  wounded  one,  as  she 
ran  along,  expecting  at  every  instant  to  see  her  strike  the 
rocks.  To  their  wonder  and  disappointment,  she  passed  on 
unharmed,  and  entered  the  Haven. 

La  Hembrilla  had  escaped  out  of  the  subtle  ambush  of 
her  legal  foe ;  she  had  passed  through  all  the  dangers  of 
the  close  hot  chase,  had  detected  and  avoided  the  snare  of 
treachery,  and  lay  once  more,  as  if  at  peace,  within  her  old 
resting  place. 

Arrowson  placed  a  man  in  the  hut  to  keep  watch,  and 
hurriedly  drew  oflT  his  forces  to  the  glen. 

Hackett  waited  till  dawn,  and  then  set  to  work  to  mend 
the  injured  gaflf,  to  splice  cut  rigging,  to  reeve  new  running 
gear,  and  to  repair  other  damages,  as  far  as  possible  with 
the  means  at  hand. 

He  was  resolved  upon  his  course — as  fixed  as  adamant. 
He  was  a  desperate  man.  Those  with  him,  seeing  the 
straits  into  which  he  had  been  forced,  and  believing  that 
his  fate  would  be  theirs  for  weal  or  woe,  made  up  their 
minds  to  stand  by  him  to  the  death. 

At  about  ten  o'clock  the  repairs  were  done.  Hackett 
and  his  men,  armed  to  the  teeth,  got  into  their  two  boats, 
and  pulled  boldly  and  rapidly  ashore,  through  the  heavy 
rain  then  falling.  He  landed,  had  the  boats  hauled  up  on 
the  sand  as  was  customary,  and  passing  through  the  hut 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  415 

just  vacated  by  Arrowson's  spy,  went  on  up  the  brook 
and  entered  the  glen. 

He  saw  that  he  was  expected,  for  men  with  arms  in 
their  hands  stood  looking  at  him  and  his  party  from  the 
door  of  every  house.  Arrowson,  followed  by  a  dozen 
pirates,  strode  forward  to  meet  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


HARTLEY  gazed  at  the  schooner  as  she  sailed  past  in 
that  silent,  mysterious  manner,  with  feelings  at  first  of 
astonishment  and  stupefaction,  then  of  pleasure  at  having 
the  long-sought  dextrous  buccaneer  securely  blockaded. 

He  remembered,  too,  that  (as  they  all  supposed)  the 
Dewhursts  were  prisoners  on  board ;  but  he  had  no  time 
to  think  either  of  their  danger  or  their  rescue.  La  Hem- 
brilla  quickly  disappeared  around  the  wooded  point  above, 
and  brought  his  thinking  space  to  an  end. 

"  Kow  we  have  him,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Will,  see  the 
hammocks  cleared  away,  and  the  men  by  the  guns. 
Young  gentleman  !  "  addressing  the  midshipman  of  the 
watch,  who  was  now  peering  curiously  over  the  hatch 
combings,  "tell  the  captain  that  La  Hembrilla  has  just 
run  by  us  up  the  river,  and  I  am  clearing  away  the  battery. 
Then  call  all  the  officers — quick  as  you  play !  "  '  The 
quartermaster,  who  now  came  running  aft,  was  interrupted 
in  his  wonder-struck  report,  by  an  order  to  assist  Garnet. 

In  half  a  minute  more  the  ship  was  in  a  buzz  of  re- 
strained and  repressed  excitement.  The  men  learned  from 
the  quartermaster  that  the  schooner  had  gone  by,  and  they 
rushed  at  their  work  with  a  feverish  haste  and  quietness, 
each  in  his  station  hurrying  through  his  allotted  part  of  the 
preparations  for  battle.     Meanwhile,  the  half-dressed,  but 


4:16  LOYE   AFLOAT. 

very  wide-awake  officers  joined  their  divisions,  and  made 
the  work  go  on  all  the  more  rapidly. 

Hartley  was  presently  relieved  by  McKizick,  and  went 
to  take  command  of  his  own  guns  on  the  deck  below.  He 
could  not  help  thinking,  during  his  busy  oversight,  that  he 
was  perhaps  preparing  harm  for  the  girl  he  loved.  He 
attended  only  the  more  closely  to  his  duty,  but  he  could  not 
shake  off  that  consciousness. 

When  the  guns  were  all  ready  for  firing,  which  was 
very  soon,  the  word  was  passed  along  from  man  to  man 
that  everybody  was  wanted  on  the  quarter-deck.  The  crew 
pressed  up  the  ladder  from  the  dark  battery  below,  crowded 
aft  in  a  body,  and  waited. 

Captain  Merritt  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  deck,  and 
he  walked  to  the  capstan  and  addressed  them  in  a  low 
but  distinct  voice.  "  My  lads,  this  is  the  only  good  chance 
we  have  had  ; — we  musn't  lose  it.  I  want  you  all  to  keep 
quiet,  and  not  give  that  fellow  notice  we  are  getting  ready 
for  him.  We  are  going  to  get  everything  ready  now,  and 
nobody  must  forget  himself  and  sing  out. 

"  Mr.  McKizick,  the  topmen  will  loose  the  sails,  but 
keep  them  stopped  up  on  the  yards  ;  and  they  will  see  all 
clear  aloft  for  sheeting  home  and  hoisting.  Then  they'll 
lay  down  without  orders,  and  the  captains  will  report  all 
ready  to  you. 

"  The  afterguard  will  get  up  a  five-inch  hawser  and 
pass  it  out  of  the  after  chock.  The  forecastle  men  will  carry 
it  forward  and  bend  it  on  to  the  chain  for  a  spring.  The 
armorer  wdll  unshackle  abaft  the  compressor.  All  the  gear 
must  be  lead  out  or  laid  down  clear  for  running.  Let  the 
men  go  at  it,  sir." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir.  Lay  aloft,  topmen.  Young  gentlemen, 
you  can  keep  out  of  the  tops  to-night.  Afterguard,  fetch 
the  end  of  a  five-inch  hawser  up  from  the  reel,  and  stick  it 
out  aft."  The  crew  went  so  vigorously  at  the  work,  that 
in  fifteen  minutes  it  was  done ;  and  they  were  sent  below 
again  to  stand  by  their  guns. 


A   STOET   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  417 

There  they  waited,  talking  in  whispers,  and  peering  out 
of  the  ports  up  the  stream  for  a  sign  of  the  schooner 
returning. 

The  lights  of  the  ship  had  been  all  extinguished,  and 
the  battle  lanterns  left  unlit,  the  better  to  deceive.  The 
officers  of  the  gun  divisions.  Hartley,  Garnet,  and  Briggs, 
stood  together,  impatient,  in  the  paler  gloom  by  the  main 
hatch,  one  of  them  letting  fall  now  and  then  inconse- 
quential but  anxious  words.  It  came  over  Hartley's  poetic 
mind  in  one  flash  that  it  was  an  atmosphere  tremulous  as 
with  conspiracy  which  he  was  breathing  in  that  whisper- 
ing darkness.  He  was  too  much  dreading  for  Mary, 
however,  now  that  he  had  time  to  think  and  feel,  to 
linger  over  any  mere  fancy.  He  trembled  to  think  of  her 
prolonged  peril,  and  the  idea  of  the  schooner's  trying  to 
pass  down  the  river  again  under  the  sloop's  fire  filled  him 
with  sickening  apprehensions.  His  shaken  nerves  and  dis- 
tempered imagination  presented  to  his  eyes  the  bleeding 
body  of  his  dear  love,  torn  and  disfigured  by  the  merciless 
missiles  of  her  friends,  perhaps  of  her  lover  himself.  If  he 
could  have  known  that  Mary  was  not  in  the  schooner,  he 
would  have  been  spared  what  he  in  after  years  looked  back 
upon  as  the  most  wretched  feeling  of  his  life. 

Finding  that  the  pirate  did  not  immediately  reappear, 
Captain  Merritt  permitted  the  crews  to  sit  or  lie  down 
about  their  respective  guns,  and  the  officers  to  go  on  the 
Bpar-deck,  so  they  would  not  be  wearied  out  in  waiting, 
while  at  the  same  time,  every  one  would  be  ready  to  go  to 
his  station  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  men  by  degrees 
dropped  off  to  sleep ;  the  officers  talked,  and  yawned,  and 
nodded ;  the  lookouts  watched  the  bend  of  the  river. 

This  was  the  situation.  The  guns  were  all  loaded, 
primed,  and  aimed,  so  as  to  strike  the  hull  of  any  passing 
vessel.  The  lights  had  all  been  put  out  or  hooded,  and  the 
ship  was  gloomy  and  still.  Each  man  was  at  his  station, 
or  very  near  it,  ready  for  a  call.  The  marines  were  lying 
down  on  the  spar-deck,  with  their  loaded  muskets  stacked. 
IS* 


4:18  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Port-fires  had  been  prepared,  so  that  they  could  be  lighted 
with  the  least  delay,  and  the  neighboring  parts  of  the 
river  illuminated.  The  sails  were  loosed  and  ready  for 
setting,  without  showing  it,  and  everything  was  prepared  to 
let  go  the  chain,  and  to  whirl  the  ship's  head  around  with 
the  quarter  spring.     So  all  waited. 

Hartley  did  not  grow  weary  or  yawn,  any  more  than 
Garnet  did  :  he  could  not.  He  watched  for  the  appear- 
ance of  the  schooner  with  the  same  dreadful  impatience 
that  a  man  might  have  felt  who,  in  an  oarless  boat,  drift- 
ing down  a  swift  winding  stream  lined  with  unbroken 
vertical  cliiFs,  listened  to  the  sound  of  the  cataract  he  was 
approaching,  strove  vainly  to  guess  its  distance,  and  longed 
to  reach  it  soon.  Without  avail  were  Garnet's  efforts  to 
cheer  him  up.  Hartley  felt  the  insincerity  of  his  friend's 
professions,  and  wondered  how  he  could  so  stoically  bear 
the  prospect  of  harm  to  Isabel  whom  he  professed  to  love  ; 
for  he  could  not  but  know  there  was  danger  to  the  schooner, 
and  to  all  she  tried  to  carry  by.  And  so  his  minutes 
dragged,  apprehension  giving  them  a  treble  length. 

We  have  seen  how  La  Hembrilla  ran  by,  and  received 
the  broadside.  When  she  came  around  the  bend,  she  was 
instantly  seen,  and  the  word  ran  through  the  ship  electri- 
cally. Every  man  was  at  his  station  in  ten  seconds,  keenly 
alert,  breathlessly  still.  The  officers  and  men  on  deck 
were  hidden  below  the  rail,  all  waiting,  and  enough  watch- 
ing. The  marines  crouched  down  with  thei/  muskets  in 
hand.  The  quartermasters,  squatted  behind  the  wheel, 
were  ready  to  uncover  their  lamps  and  ignite  the  port- 
fires. Sheets  and  halliards  were  led  along;  clewlines, 
clewgarnets,  buntlines,  leech  lines,  downhauls,  and  brails, 
were  all  clear  for  running. 

Worst  of  all  to  Hartley  in  those  few  minutes  while  La 
Hembrilla  stole  softly  down  the  dark  stream,  worst  of  all 
was  to  see  his  gun  captains,  hardly  visible  in  the  darkness 
to  less  accustomed  eyes,  showing  their  grim  and  eager 
willingness  by  their  quick  changes  of  position  and  tense 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  419 

watch  upon  the  coming  victim.  It  was  impossible  to 
miss  the  schooner:  no  aim  would  be  necessary:  only- 
fire  the  gun  when  she  came  abreast  the  muzzle,  and 
the  shot  must  strike  the  mark.  His  guns  would  be  the 
first,  the  very  first  to  be  discharged :  he  might  be  the  one 
to  break  his  own  lovely  idol.  In  a  terrible  whirl  of  feeling 
he  waited.  He  could  not  prevent  what  was  to  come  ;  he 
could  only  stand  still,  choked  by  his  emotion,  unable  to 
speak,  hardly  able  to  breathe.  He  still  hoped  that  the 
schooner  might,  at  the  last  moment,  take  the  alarm  and 
go  back  up  the  river,  to  receive  only  their  uncertain  port 
broadside ;  or  might  change  her  course,  and  run  by  them 
on  the  other  side,  which  would  give  her  a  slightly  better 
chance.  But  when  through  the  open  bridle-port,  he  saw 
by  her  white  sails  not  fifty  yards  away,  that  she  was  still 
coming,  the  last  hope  fled,  and  a  horrible  fascination  crept 
over  him.  His  affections  and  moral  forces  were  suddenly 
paralyzed,  benumbed  by  the  long  terrible  strain  upon 
them  ;  and  for  the  time  he  was  mad.  His  dormant  destruc- 
tiveness  awoke,  he  felt  the  instinct  of  carnage  which  lies 
within  the  best  of  us  men  as  a  part  of  our  brute  nature ; 
he  was  possessed  by  a  frantic  desire  to  rend,  tear,  destroy. 

The  sound  of  the  forward  gun  awoke  him.  Feeling  as 
if  he  were  about  to  go  mad  indeed,  he  left  his  division 
and  staggered  aft  among  the  guns  to  Garnet.  He  found 
him  exhorting  the  captains  to  steadiness.  Hartley  seized 
his  arm  with  both  hands.  Garnet  turned  to  see  what  was 
the  matter,  recognized  his  friend,  but  heard  only  a  groan. 
Seeing  his  condition.  Garnet  made  him  go  on  deck,  and 
himself  returned  to  his  duty. 

By  the  time  Hartley  reached  the  quarter-deck,  with  a 
wild  purpose  of  calling  upon  the  captain  to  cease  firing,- 
the  last  shot  had  been  delivered,  and  the  schooner  was 
clear.  In  the  blaze  of  the  port-fires.  Hartley  saw  the 
pirate  captain  standing  alone  at  the  helm  of  his  vessel, 
and  he  observed  the  fewness  of  the  men  who  came  on 
deck  in  response  to  the  call  for  all,     He  was  able  to  reasoi^ 


420  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

that  if  all  the  pirate's  crew  were  not  there,  the  prisoners 
also  might  be  absent;  and  this  hopeful  element  of  doubt 
mightily  relieved -him.  He  ran  to  his  station,  and  assisted 
in  getting  the  sails  set  and  the  ship  cast,  with  a  feverish 
hurry,  as  though  all  his  chance  now  lay  in  overtaking  th^ 
crippled  enemy.  As  the  yards  mounted  to  the  mastheads, 
and  the  sails  spread  their  broad  surfaces  to  the  breeze,  and 
the  chain  rattled  out  through  the  hawse-pipe,  and  the 
men  ran  away  with  the  spring,  and  as  the  ship  swung 
quickly  around,  and  filling  her  canvas  stood  down  the 
river — all  in  quick  succession — he  felt  an  unreasoning  glad- 
ness, the  relief  of  action  after  a  terrible  suspense.  He 
would  at  least  learn  the  worst,  and  end  his  doubts. 

But  when  the  firing  was  recommenced  in  the  pursuit 
down  stream,  he  was  again  miserable  :  and  though  greatly 
relieved  by  his  new  doubt  of  Mary's  being  on  board  the 
pirate,  he  was  glad  when  Garnet  came  forward,  and  told 
him  the  captain  wanted  him  on  deck.  Garnet  was  ex- 
tremely depressed  himself  by  the  possibility  of  the  Dew- 
hurst  family  being  in  the  schooner,  and  of  their  receiving 
hurt ;  and  though  he  looked  at  the  chances  against  both 
possibilities,  and  was  never  in  one  of  his  friends  ecstacies, 
he  was  suffering.  He  felt  more  deeply  for  his  friend  than 
for  himself,  however.  He  had  told  Captain  Merritt  of 
Hartley's  hard  situation,  between  love  and  duty,  which 
was  reason  enough  to  a  humane  man  like  Merritt  for 
making  a  temporary  change. 

The  seamen  grew  fiercely  excited,  as  the  sloop  con- 
tinued to  overhaul  the  pirate,  and  they  looked  with  savage 
delight  to  her  capture  or  destruction.  It  was  only  a  veiy 
agreeable  hunt  to  them. 

Captain  Merritt,  who  stood  aft  with  the  first  lieutenant, 
did  not  expect  so  much.  They  were  full  of  admiration 
for  Hackett's  daring  in  attempting  to  run  past  again,  and 
for  the  unblenching  courage  with  which  he  had  stood  to 
his  station,  exposing  himself  alone  to  their  fire.  His 
scornful  taunt,  also,  hurled  ftt  them  as  so&n  a#  ^h^  glinf 


A   STOEY   OF  THE   AMEEICAN  NAVY.  421 

would  let  his  voice  be  heard,  made  them  respect  him.  He 
had  proved  himself  no  mean  prey,  brave  as  well  as  wily ; 
and  neither  of  the  two  experienced  officers  expected  to 
take  a  man  of  so  much  resource  and  resolution  a  pris- 
oner. When  La  Hembrilla  put  her  helm  up  and  started 
to  run  ashore,  Captain  Merritt  said,  "  There  he  goes, 
McKizick,  just  as  I  thought.  The  best  we  can  do  is  to 
knock  his  schooner  to  pieces  to-night,  and  send  the  boats 
in  to  her  in  the  morning.  Stand  by  to  shorten  sail  and 
heave  to." 

At  this  moment  only  two  of  the  crews  were  busy 
below,  the  bow-guns  only  being  in  use ;  and  the  rest  of 
the  men  were  all  on  deck,  watching  the  schooner  from  the 
best  places  to  see  her.  A  crowd  were  on  the  forecastle, 
several  of  whom  had  taken  their  stand  on  the  head  rail. 
When  La  Hembrilla  kept  away  toward  the  beach,  the 
movement  was  noticed  and  all  ran  to  leeward  to  watch  her. 
One  of  the  men  on  the  rail  let  go  his  hold  for  a  moment, 
when  he  was  pushed  from  behind  by  another  man  crowd- 
ing in  to  get  a  place.  Overbalanced,  he  stretched  his 
arms  backward,  and  craned  his  body  in  vain.  Seeing  he 
must  fall,  he  very  sensibly  leaped  as  far  as  he  could  into 
the  sea,  so  that  the  ship  might  not  run  over  him.  The 
men  who  saw  him  spring  were  all  paralyzed  but  the  old 
captain  of  the  forecastle,  who  kept  his  presence  of  mind 
enough  to  cry  loudly,  "  Man  overboard  !  " 

McKizick  was  not  in  the  least  flustered,  and  gave 
exactly  the  right  commands.  Without  hesitation,  and  in 
a  matter-of-fact  way  he  asked,  "  Will  you  drop  the  buoy, 
captain?"  Then  he  thundered,  ^^  Silence!  Silence,  fore 
and  aft !  Clear  away  port  cutter  !  Mr.  Thick,  take 
charge  and  go  !  Quartermaster,  hard-a-port !  Let  go  the 
stunsel  tacks  and  sheets  !  Flow  headsheets  !  Port  main, 
starboard  cross-jack  braces  !  Brace  up  !  Haul  out  the 
spanker !     Forecastle,  there  !     Haul  up  the  foresail  !  " 

As  all  the  officers  were  on  deck,  there  was  quick  guid- 
ance for  the  somewhat  confused  crew,  and  the  first  lieu- 


422  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

tenant's  orders  were  carried  out  almost  as  fast  as  given. 
Captain  Merritt,  who  was  satisfied  that  McKizick  knew 
what  to  do  as  well  as  anybody,  and  was  willing  to  trust 
him,  ran  to  the  quarter  and  with  his  own  hand  pulled  the 
toggle  igniting  the  port-fire,  and  then  dropped  the  buoy 
almost  at  the  side  of  the  man  in  the  water.  He  was  a 
good  swimmer,  and  quickly  gained  its  support.  McKizick's 
tremendous  demand  for  silence  subdued  the  rising  clamor, 
and  gave  the  crew  their  wits  like  magic.  The  ship  came 
swiftly  to  the  wind,  and  lay  directly  with  her  foretopsail 
to  the  mast,  and  the  studding-sails  flapping  and  ballooning 
all  abroad.  By  this  time  the  men  could  see  by  the 
brightly  blazing  port-fire  that  their  messmate  was  safe. 
Coolness  was  entirely  restored.  Thick  was  lowering  the 
cutter  already,  and  soon  the.  man  was  pidked  up  and 
brought  back,  none  the  worse  for  his  involuntary  bath. 

The  schooner  had  been  closely  watched  all  the  while, 
and  though,  when  the  boat  returned,  she  was  so  far  ahead 
as  to  make  further  pursuit  useless,  still  Captain  Merritt  was 
very  well  pleased.  He  knew  that  with  the  Flying  Fish 
outside  La  Hembrilla  could  not  possibly  escape  from  the 
Haven  in  her  present  crippled  condition,  and  beside,  there 
were  signs  abroad  of  an  approaching  storm.  If  she  should 
try  to  run  away  in  that,  she  was  sure  to  be  caught,  judging 
by  the  chase  to  Isla  Bella.  "  No,"  thought  the  captain, 
"  he  is  bottled  up  safe  enough  for  some  time ;  and  mean- 
while we'll  have  our  chance  at  him."  He  ordered  the  ship 
to  be  kept  off  and  on  in  short  stretches,  had  one  watch 
sent  below,  directed  a  sharp  lookout,  and  went  down  for  a 
nap,  much  better  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  taking  the 
schooner  alive,  than  he  would  have  been  merely  to  de- 
stroy her. 

It  was  about  three  o'clock.  During  the  remaining  hour 
of  night  it  was  darker  than  usual,  for  the  sky  was  deeply 
overcast  by  low  hanging  clouds  which  shut  out  returning 
day.  The  ship  stood  backward  and  forward  in  front  of  the 
entrance  to  the  Haven,  like  a  sentry  on  his  beat.     The 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  423 

omens  of  ill  weather  became  more  numerous,  and  their  ful- 
filment began.  The  wind  backed  into  the  south  and  blew 
in  vicious  pufts  of  gaining  strength,  with  heavy  passing 
showers.  Day  found  the  sloop  under  her  three  topsailtJ 
only,  buffeting  a  rising  sea,  amid  gloomy  and  angry  ap- 
pearances of  the  sky. 

At  seven  o'clock,  in  spite  of  the  rain,  now  almost  con- 
tinuous, most  of  the  officers  and  many  of  the  watch  below 
who  had  been  permitted  to  sleep  in,  were  on  the  spar-deck. 
There  was  a  general  feeling  that  something  must  happen 
now,  which  brought  them,  careless  of  health  and  ease,  into 
the  open  air,  where  they  could  watch  the  weather  and 
the  old  man,  the  captain,  whose  will  must  decide  their 
action. 

He  was  up,  also,  engaged  in  earnest  talk  apart  with 
McKizick. 

The  rain  and  wind  and  sea  naturally  had  in  many 
minds  their  usual  depressing  effect,  leading  some  to  think 
that  nothing  would  be  attempted,  and  others  to  look  with 
doubt  upon  the  success  of  any  effort  made  with  such  bad 
presages.  Habitual  croakers  found  the  occasion  to  their 
minds,  and  wielded  dismal  prophecies  with  great  effect. 

At  seven  bells  was  a  sudden  stir  among  the  men.  and 
a  concentration  of  all  eyes  upon  the  quarter-deck.  The 
captain  had  sent  for  the  officers. 

Hartley  and  Garnet  came  first,  and  while  waiting  for 
the  rest  the  captain  began  to  talk  to  them. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Garnet,  all  our  fine  plans  for  signal  stations 
and  for  passing  news  along  have  come  to  nothing." 

"  So  it  looks  now,  sir." 

"  It  was  a  daring  thing  in  Hackett  to  run  by  us  in  that 
manner." 

"  It  was  gallant,  sir.  It's  a  pity  such  a  brave,  able  man 
should  be  thrown  away  in  the  life  he  leads." 

"  I  agree  with  you.  If  it  hadn't  be6n  for  your  quick- 
ness he  wouldn't  have  made  the  attempt.  Evidently  he 
thought  we  were  all  napping." 


424  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

'*  Yes,  sii',  but  I  don't  see  that  we  are  much  better  off 
for  capturing  him  than  if  he  had  stayed  up  the  river." 

"  Wait  awhile,  and  you'll  see.  I  am  going  to  send  a 
good  force  in  the  back  way  again,  and  keep  the  sloop  out- 
side to  head  him  off,  if  he  tries  to  run." 

"  I  see.  You  are  going  to  put  him  on  an  equal  footing, 
a  fair  fight  ashore  or  an  even  start  afloat." 

"  That's  it.  He  shan't  have  the  chance  to  ambuscade 
the  boats  again  ;  and  if  he  tries  to  come  out  he'll  be  sunk 
in  the  channel.  The  race  shan't  begin,  if  I  can  help  it." 
Turning  to  Hartley  he  remarked,  "You'll  not  have  to 
make  that  reconnoissance  now,  Mr.  Hartley,  and  I'm  glad 
of  it.  You'll  go  in  with  a  force  instead  of  a  boat's 
crew,  sir." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  was  all  Hartley  could  say.  He  was 
very  thankful  for  any  chance  to  help  Mary,  if  it  were  not 
too  late,  and  he  wished  in  any  case  to  know  the  truth  as 
soon  as  possible.  It  was  the  only  soothing  left  for  his 
nervous  distress  and  well-founded  dread. 

"  I  know  something  of  what  you  must  feel,  Mr.  Hart- 
ley," said  the  captain  kindly.  "  Don't  let  your  anxiety 
make  you  rash.  Excuse  my  speaking  of  it  here,  but  we 
are  all  friends,  1  hope." 

Hartley  could  only  murmur  his  gratitude  as  the  other 
two  officers  came  up.  They  were  Larkin  and  Lieutenant 
Robbins.  "  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  captain  cheerfully, 
"  we're  all  here  now.  The  boats  will  go  in  after  breakfast — 
launch  and  three  cutters,  Mr.  McKizick  in  command  in  the 
launch,  Mr.  Robbins,  you  will  take  your  men  and  go  with 
the  first  lieutenant.  Mr.  Hartley  will  have  the  first  cutter, 
Mr.  Garnet  the  second,  Mr.  Larkin  the  third.  Let's  see — 
Twenty  in  the  launch,  twelve — ten — ten — sixteen  marines 
— four  coxswains — four  officers — and  four  midshipmen — 
just  eighty  all  told.  That  will  do.  Mr.  McKizick,  you  had 
better  let  Mr.  Robbins  keep  his  men  back  at  first  as  a 
reserve.  You  may  have  a  desperate  fight  and  need  a  bay- 
onet charge  to  scatter  the  enemy. 


A    STOEY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  425 

"  Your  first  object,  remember,  is  to  rescue  the  prison- 
ers ;  your  next,  to  break  up  the  gang. 

"  If  they  are  all  on  board  the  schooner,  or  if  you  drive 
them  there,  force  her  out  of  the  Haven  by  firing  at  her 
from  the  high  grounds  ashore,  and  I  will  look  out  for  her 
with  the  ship.  Don't  try  to  carry  her  by  boarding,  in  any 
event.  When  you  have  dispersed  the  gang,  or  driven 
them  to  sea,  burn  the  houses  and  come  back  to  the  ship. 

"Gentlemen,  I'll  not  remind  you  that  this  is  a  chance 
to  distinguish  yourselves,  for  I  want  you  to  be  prudent. 
Use  your  heads,  and  don't  lose  life  without  need.  A  bold 
rush  may  be  wise  and  save  bloodshed — but  maybe  you 
had  better  surround  them  and  fire  down  upon  them. 

"  Detail  four  midshipmen,  sir ;  and  let  those  go  who 
have  had  no  service." 

The  officers  moved  away,  seeing  that  their  instructions 
were  complete. 

At  half-past  eight,  as  soon  as  the  men  had  done  their 
breakfast,  the  ship  was  headed  to  the  westward,  and  every- 
body went  to  work  to  get  ready  the  boats  and  arms  for 
the  projected  attack.  To  hide  their  operations,  the  ship 
was  hove  to  around  the  point  behind  which  Hartley  had 
escaped  in  the  canoe.  They  dared  not  stand  close  in,  be- 
cause the  squalls  were  becoming  too  strong  and  long  to 
make  it  safe  to  risk  her  near  the  lee  shore.  Everything 
went  on  swimmingly  in  more  senses  than  one ;  for  the  rain 
was  now  very  heavy,  and  a  sheet  of  fresh  water  an  inch 
thick  was  washing  backward  and  forward  over  the  deck. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  cessation  of  a  light  squall,  the 
boom  boats  were  lifted  one  by  one  from  their  resting 
places  on  board  and  lowered  into  the  sea,  and  the  loaded 
fire-arms,  with  their  supply  of  ammunition,  was  placed  in 
them,  carefully  shielded  under  tarpaulins. 

When  all  was  ready  the  crews  and  officers  of  the  expe- 
dition took  their  places,  and  the  ship  gave  her  boats  a 
tow-line  and  filled  away.  She  stood  deliberately  into  the 
mouth  of  the  river  as  far  as  the  captain  could  venture,  with 


4:26  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

the  four  boats  trailing  along  behind  her.  As  she  hauled 
her  wind,  they  cast  off  the  tow,  and  passed  on  up  the 
stream  under  oars.  With  the  wind  astern  and  a  following 
sea,  the  current  was  little  felt.  They  made  good  way, 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  little  creek  in  due  season,  ran  out 
of  the  swell  into  its  calm  waters,  and  disembarked. 

The  column  was  quickly  formed,  with  the  officers  dis- 
tributed through  it  to  preserve  order  and  silence  and  the 
marine  guard  bringing  up  the  rear.  As  before,  Hartley 
found  himself  in  advance,  with  the  first  lieutenant.  The 
men  were  cautioned  to  shield  the  locks  of  their  fire-arms 
from  the  wet,  and  the  march  was  begun. 

In  a  dismal  stilhiess  they  tramped  along  the  familiar 
narrow  path.  The  trees  dripped  volumes  on  their  heads, 
and  in  the  open  spots  the  rain  was  blindingly  thick.  The 
wind  moaned  fitfully  in  the  wet  foliage :  the  sound  of  the 
Burf  was  a  hoarse  and  menacing  monotone,  as  inescapable 
as  though  proceeding  from  within  each  hearer.  Little  rills 
of  discolored  water  trickled  in  all  directions  over  the 
humus  under  foot.  The  branches  of  the  trees  hung  down 
despondently  with  their  heavy  drenching  burdens,  and 
made  deep  shades  beneath.  The  air  was  full  of  spray  from 
rain  drops  turned  into  vapor  by  the  squalls,  and  vision  was 
limited  all  around  by  the  misty  presence.  All  about  the 
party  was  gloomy,  cheerless,  discouraging :  no  one  felt  his 
nerves  thrill  and  his  blood  run  hotly  with  excitement  and 
expectation.  No  man  could  avoid  the  influence  of  this 
contrary  phase  of  tropical  nature.  The  elements  seemed 
to  be  laboring  to  restore  the  balance  quickly,  after  the 
previous  unusually  clear  weather. 

Hartley  had  the  same  reason  for  depression  as  the  com- 
monest Jack  in  the  party,  and  more.  To  him,  like  the 
rest,  it  seemed  that  no  bright  success  of  arms  could  happen 
on  such  a  day ;  but,  beyond  that,  he  had  his  gloomy  per- 
sonal anxieties.  Garnet  showed  no  discouragement  in  his 
face,  marching  along  as  coolly  attentive  to  his  duty  as  if 
it  were  a  common  occasion  and  he  were  not  soaked  to  the 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  427 

skin.  McKizick  was  perhaps  the  only  tolerably  cheerful 
person  there.  As  for  the  middies,  they  were  *'  swaddled  in 
gloom." 

There  was  not  a  very  long  time  in  which  to  despond, 
for  McKizick  stepped  so  briskly  that  they  soon  neared  the 
glen.  As  they  approached,  a  faint  sound  of  voices,  raised 
as  if  in  dispute,  was  heard,  becoming  more  distinct  each 
instant. 

McKizick  stopped  the  column  when  within  about 
thirty  yards  of  the  brink  of  the  cliff,  and  motioning 
Hartley  to  follow,  advanced  to  reconnoitre.  They  peered 
over  the  rocks  together.  In  front  of  them  were  the  houses 
over  whose  tops  they  looked,  and  a  break  in  the  trees 
revealed  the  source  of  the  sounds  which  they  had  heard. 

In  the  open  space  where  Hartley  had  seen  the  fire, 
there  stood,  a  few  yards  apart,  two  small  groups  of  men, 
armed  and  apparently  watching  each  other.  Between  the 
groups  were  Hackett  and  Arrowson,  loudly  and  angrily 
talking  at  one  another,  and  each  supported  by  the  men  at 
his  back.  Their  words  were  audible  to  the  two  ofiicers, 
who  saw  at  once  that  it  was  more  than  a  common  quarrel. 
They  listened. 

"  You  damned  traitor !  " — Hackett  was  speaking — "  I 
took  you  up  and  made  you,  and  this  is  the  way  you  pay 
me  !     Settin'  my  own  men  against  me !     You " 

"  Where  'ave  you  'id  the  box  ?  "  interrupted  Arrowson. 

"That's  another  of  your  tricks,  you  lyinVdog,  to  tell 
that,  when  like  's  not  you  stole  it  yourself !  Listen  to  me  ! 
I  am  going  to  punish  you  for  this." 

"  'Ow  ?  "  demanded  Arrowson,  with  an  insolent  laugh. 

"  By  main  strength.  If  you  want  to  get  off  easy,  lay 
down  your  arms  and  surrender." 

"  Ho  !  ho  !  By  main  strength  !  Ho  !  -ho !  "  laughed  the 
mate,  pointing  at  the  little  knot  of  men  behind  the  captain. 

Hackett's  reply  was  a  loud  command.  "  All  you  men 
that  stand  by  me,  lay  along  here  ! "  and  in  obedience  to 
the  summons,  eight  or  ten  men,  variously  armed,  came 


428  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

darting  under  the  trees  toward  their  captain.  Ko  effort 
was  made  to  check  or  molest  them,  but  immediately  others 
ran  into  the  open  space  and  joined  the  mate's  party,  giving 
it  clearly  the  superiority  in  numbers.  At  this,  the  voices 
of  the  disputants  dropped,  and  for  the  next  minute  their 
quarrel  was  carried  on  in  a  tone  the  officers  could  not  hear. 
Hackett  seemed  to  be  insisting  on  the  strength  of  his 
force,  pointing  to  it,  and  talking  earnestly;  while  the 
mate's  replies  were  short  and  sulky.  McKizick  thought 
that  if  the  rogues  chose  to  fall  out,  he,  as  an  honest  man, 
would  stand  still  and  let  them  fight. 

Suddenly  a  slender  figure,  clad  in  drenched  white, 
which  clung  to  her  body  and  plainly  revealed  her  form, 
appeared  at  the  front  of  one  of  the  houses  on  the  left  and 
advanced  hesitatingly  toward  the  captain.  When  she  was 
about  half-way  between  the  house  and  him,  some  one 
seemed  to  tell  Hackett  she  was  coming.  He  turned  toward 
her,  and  called  in  a  solicitous  voice,  "  Go  back,  Catareeny, 
go  back !  This  ain't  no  place  for  you ! "  The  mate 
laughed  again  ;  and  Catarina  obediently  began  to  return, 
though  frequently  pausing  to  cast  back  fearsome  glances 
at  her  lover. 

Something  the  mate  said  directly  after  seemed  to 
anger  Hackett.  He  commenced  speaking  loudly  and 
vehemently.  "  Go  away  ?  go  away,  and  give  'em  up  ? 
You  fool !  "  Catarina  stopped,  at  the  sound  of  his  voice 
and  started  back  to  him.  "  No ! "  thundered  Hackett, 
"  I'm  captain  here  yet,  and  I'll  prove  it.  Why  do  you  back 
up  that  fool,  you  men  ?  The  cruiser's  outside,  and  with 
him  for  a  captain,  you'd  all  be  nabbed  inside  o'  two  days. 
It's  him  has  stole  the  box."  There  was  an  instant's 
pause. 

"Jeames  Arrowson,  this  is  your  last  chance,"  said 
Hackett  slowly  and  severely  ;  "  will  you  surrender  ?  " 

"  No,"  bellowed  the  mate,  putting  his  hand  to  his  belt, 
and  stepping  backward  with  the  instinct  of  danger.  Hack- 
ett levelled  a  pistol  at  his  head  and  fired — but  just  too 


A    STOKY   OF   THE   AMERICAN    KAVY.  429 

late — the  crack  of  the  mate's  weapon  preceded  his  by  the 
tenth  of  a  second. 

Under  the  blue  smoke  Hartley  saw  the  unfortunate 
leader  sink  upon  his  knees,  and  fall  forward  heavily  with 
his  face  to  the  earth,  while  Arrowson  remained  erect  and 
laughed  like  an  atrocious  fiend.  It  was  the  glimpse  of  a 
moment.  Then  came  a  wild  short  scream  of  vengeance 
and  despair  from  Catarina,  who  was  within  six  feet  of 
Hackett  when  the  fatal  shot  was^ fired.  She  darted  at  the 
mate  like  a  pale  fury,  her  hair  streaming,  her  right  arm 
raised,  a  knife  in  her  hand.  She  stabbed  him  in  the  shoul- 
der as  quick  as  lightning,  and  lifted  her  hand  to  repeat  the 
blow.  Arrowson  sprang  at  her  with  a  fierce  oath,  mastered 
her  uplifted  right  arm  with  his  left  hand,  and,  holding  her 
off,  struck  her  a  crushing  blow  on  the  head  with  the  barrel 
of  the  pistol  he  had  just  fired.  McKizick  saw  her  instantly 
droop  and  sink ;  saw  the  mate  hold  her  up  from  the  ground 
by  her  arm  while  he  struck  her  repeatedly  with  the  pistol 
barrel,  heard  his  shameful  execrations,  saw  him  flinsr  the 
limp  body  to  the  ground  and  spurn  it  with  his  foot ;  and 
he  sprang  to  his  feet  convulsed  and  pale  with  rage.  *'  Oh 
God  1 "  he  groaned.  Then  in  a  voice  of  vengeance  he 
called  out,  "  Follow  me,  men ! "  and  started  on  a  swift  run 
toward  the  cleft. 

In  those  two  minutes  the  men  had  been  working  for- 
ward, full  of  curiosity  to  know  what  was  going  on ;  and 
like  their  ofl[ic  r  they  were  half  wild  to  revenge  the  poor 
girl  they  had  seen  so  brutally  slain. 

McKizick  reached  the  steps  first  and  ran  recklessly 
down,  followed  closely  by  Hartley.  The  first  lieutenant 
did  not  wait  for  the  others,  but  dashed  at  once,  sword  in 
hand,  around  the  corner  of  Hackett's  house  and  toward  the 
pirates.     His  men  were  not  far  behind  him. 

The  pirates  were  all  commingled,  yelling,  stabbing, 
firing,  hacking.  Swords  were  clashing,  women  screaming, 
wounded  men  groaning ;  and  the  elements  lent  their  unno- 
ticed aid  to  the  discord,  in  pouring  rain  and  moaning  wind. 


430  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

It  was  a  scene  more  fitting  a  world  peopled  with  wild 
demons  than  one  filled  with  men.  Unobserved  by  the 
absorbed  combatants,  McKizick  and  the  foremost  seamen 
fired  indiscriminately  into  the  melee^  drew  their  swords 
and  attacked.  McKizick  strove  to  hew  his  way  ipto  tho 
centre  where  he  saw  Arrowson,  anxious  to  avenge  with  his 
own  hand  the  foul  murder  of  the  girl.  Every  second  fresK 
seamen  arriving  supported  him. 

Meantime  where  was  Hartley  ?  Not  yet  in  the  fight, 
though  second  in  the  field.  He  remembered  the  injunc- 
tion of  Captain  Merritt  about  the  rescue  of  prisoners — he 
remembered  it  with  ease — and  when  he  reached  the  foot  of 
the  stairs,  he  ordered  the  first  man  he  saw  behind  to  come 
with  him.  Running  with  all  haste  to  the  prisoners'  house, 
without  any  attention  to  the  combat,  he  set  the  man  as  a 
guard,  with  the  simple  order,  "  Stay  here  ! "  and  tried  to 
open  the  door.  It  was  fast  inside.  Such  was  his  anxiety 
and  dread  that  he  could  bear  no  suspense.  He  set  his 
shoulder  against  the  door,  gave  a  powerful  efibrt,  and  burst 
it  open.  He  rushed  into  the  room  with  his  drawn  sword 
in  his  hand. 

There  stood  Mr.  Dewhurst  in  the  middle  of  the  floor, 
resolute  as  an  old  lion,  holding  poised  above  his  head  a 
chair  which  he  had  seized  as  a  weapon.  Behind  him  the 
three  women  cowered  in  mute  terror  in  the  corner. 
Mr.  Dewhurst  put  the  chair  down  when  he  saw  Hartley, 
and  his  face  lit  up  with  joy  as  he  stepped  forward  extend- 
ing his  hand.  Hartley  did  not  see  it,  did  not  see  him,  had 
not  seen  him  at  all.  He  ran  past  him,  caught  Mary  in  his 
arms,  never  dropping  the  sword,  and  strained  her  to  him 
without  a  kiss,  only  exclaiming,  "  Thank  God !  thank 
God  !  "  In  a  second  he  let  her  go  as  quickly  as  he  had 
seized  her,  and  darted  out,  crying,  "  I  must  fight ! "  "  We 
shall  watch  you  ;  "  called  Isabel  warmly  after  him,  and  he 
heard  her,  and  his  blood  leaped  joyfully  in  his  veins,  and 
he  seemed  to  hear  the  blare  of  martial  trumpets.  He 
sprang  into  the  fight  like  a  lithe  panther. 


A    STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  4:31 

Mrs.  Dewhurst,  the  picture  of  dismay,  asked  faintly, 
**  Oh,  pa,  what  does  it  all  mean  ?  " 

Mr.  Dewhurst  looked  at  her  and  the  girls,  uncertain 
for  one  instant,  then  cried,  "  By  George  !  "  caught  up  the 
chair  again,  and  ran  after  Hartley  with  the  unique  weapon 
as  fast  as  he  could.  No  one  would  have  thought  him  old 
then.  Though  he  came  of  good  fighting  English  stock  he 
had  never  fought  before  ;  and  now  that  the  fumes  of  the 
spirit  of  battle  were  in  his  head  for  the  first  time,  he  was 
easily  intoxicated.  The  stifihess  was  gone  from  his  joints, 
and  the  slowness  from  his  muscles.  He  pushed  into  the 
front  rank  of  the  seamen  and  wielded  his  chair  like  a  Tro- 
jan. If  he  slew  no  pirates,  at  any  rate  he  knocked  one 
down,  and  he  entirely  demolished  the  chair  in  a  very  short 
time.  Then  he  went  back  for  his  pistols,  before  unthought 
of,  but  when  he  returned  the  fighting  was  done. 

It  was  an  afiair  of  three  minutes.  When  McKizick  ran 
to  the  attack,  the  pirates  had  already  killed  and  wounded 
a  dozen  of  each  other.  At  first  they  did  not  notice  the 
coming  of  a  foe  common  to  them  all,  and  for  a  little  while 
the  seamen  helped  in  their  self-destruction.  Perceiving 
the  fatal  error,  they  made  common  cause,  but  it  was  too 
late.  Not  above  thirty  men  left  able  to  fight,  found  them- 
selves surrounded  by  sixty  seamen  who  were  thrusting  and 
slashing  so  vigorously  after  having  discharged  their  pistols, 
that  the  pirates  could  do  little  more  than  defend  themselves. 

Robbins  took  advantage  of  this.  He  formed  his  men 
near  the  brook  in  one  nice  rank,  dressed  them  to  the  right, 
brought  them  to  a  ready,  and  watched  the  battle  with 
patience. 

McKizick  could  not  reach  Arrowson,  who  kept  himself 
persistently  near  the  centre  of  the  pirate  band,  and  satis- 
fied himself  by  yelling  instead  of  fighting.  It  was  Hart- 
ley's bad  luck  to  meet  that  rascal.-  As  he  came  up  he  saw 
that  the  pirates  were  surrounded,  and  that  the  encircling 
ring  of  seamen  was  thinnest  on  the  lower  side  near  the 
brook  path.     He'  placed  himself  there  and  went  to  work. 


432  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

Being  a  good  rapid  swordsman,  he  quickly  disabled  his 
first  opponent  by  a  cut  across  the  right  shoulder ;  and  he 
turned  to  help  a  little  sailor  man,  who  was  rather  over- 
matched by  a  big  Spaniard  who  fought  with  a  clubbed 
musket.  Just  then  he  caught  sight  of  Arrowson  pushing 
that  way  through  the  pirates.  He  thought  in  a  second  of 
the  insult  to  Mary,  and  he  divined  that  the  mate  was  about 
to  try  to  escape.  He  resolved  to  punish  him ;  and  when 
Arrowson  reached  the  front  rank,  he  found  himself  con- 
fronted and  engaged  by  the  lieutenant.  The  mate  had  no 
choice  but  to  defend  himself,  and  he  did  so  in  such  an 
able  way  that  Hartley  should  have  taken  his  measure 
better,  and  have  been  more  careful.  Instead  of  that,  in 
his  excitement  he  exposed  himself. 

They  exchanged  half  a  dozen  swift  cuts  and  parries, 
when  the  mate  made  a  feint  at  Hartley's  leg,  and  then,  as 
quick  as  thought,  a  powerful  vertical  cut  for  his  head. 
Hartley  raised  his  blade  to  parry,  but  was  a  trifle  slow. 
His  guard  was  too  low  and  not  firm.  The  mate's  blow 
beat  it  down,  cut  through  his  cap  and  hair  to  the  skull, 
and  brought  him  to  his  knees,  half  stunned.  Arrowson 
raised  his  sword,  and  made  a  second  blow  to  finish  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXn. 


PROVIDENCE  was  watching  over  Hartley,  as  it  had 
been  for  years,  in  the  person  of  Will  Garnet.  He  had 
kept  cool,  as  usual,  had  seen  Hartley  arrive,  and  had  come 
around  to  look  after  him.  His  quick  guard  saved  Hartley, 
and  his  lightning-like  return  occupied  Arrowson  and  gave 
his  friend  a  chance  to  crawl  away.  The  mate  parried  the 
riposte,  dropped  his  sword,  and  sprung  at  Garnet  so  quickly 
as  to  take  him  by  surprise,  struck  him  a  heavy  blow  in  the 
chest,  and  knocked  him  down.     He  ran  straight  on  tpward 


A    STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  433 

the  brook  path,  calling,  in  his  powerful  voice,  "  This  way- 
lads  !  follow  me,  lads  !  the  schooner ! "  The  pirates  heard, 
and  dropping  their  weapons  as  useless  weight,  darted  after 
him  in  a  row,  disregarding  the  slashings  of  the  seamen 
Avhom  they  passed.  The  men,  bewildered  by  this  unex- 
pected flight,  did  not  at  once  pursue,  and  before  McKizick 
could  speak,  the  voice  of  Robbins  was  heard. 

"Aim!  Fire!  Tlecoyer-arms  /  Forward,  double-quick 
-^march/^^  One  or  two  of  the  flying  pirates  dropped  to 
the  volley,  and  the  rest  disappeared  down  the  brook.  The 
marines  followed  pretty  closely,  with  Robbins  shouting  to 
"  Close  up ! "  and  the  whole  mass  of  seamen  ran  after  the 
marines.  With  no  one  to  guide  them  who  had  ever  seen 
the  place  before,  and  unacquainted  with  the  brook,  they 
got  into  a  confusion  almost  inextricable,  choking  up  the 
narrow  places  between  the  banks,  and  losing  time  by  each 
man's  trying  to  force  himself  ahead.  The  consequence 
was,  that  when  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  stream, 
Arrowson  had  his  men  in  the  two  boats,  and  was  half-way 
to  the  schooner. 

Everybody  commenced  to  reload,  which  was  an  opera- 
tion of  difficulty  in  the  pouring  rain.  A  few  scattering 
shots  were  discharged  without  effect,  and  there  was  loud 
swearing  about  wet  powder.  Arrowson  cut  the  remaining 
cable  and  swept  out,  making  no  delay  to  hoist  the  sails 
inside.  The  seamen  ran  along  the  bank,  and  each  one  who 
could  get  his  weapon  to  go  off  fired  when  he  pleased  ;  but 
the  pirates  stuck  to  the  sweeps,  and  before  many  minutes 
were  able  to  hoist  the  foresail  in  the  mouth  of  the  entrance. 
La  Hembrilla  forged  ahead  safely  out  of  range. 

Mr.  McKizick  went  down  to  the  extreme  point,  and  ' 
saw  to  his  joy  the  Flying  Fish  under  double-reefed  top- 
sails, right  off  the  end  of  the  channel.  The  wind  had 
freshened  to  a  strong  gale,  and  she  seemed  to  have  all  the 
sail  she  could  carry.  While  he  looked,  there  came  a  dim 
red  flash  through  the  scud  and  rain,  and  the  dull  boom 
of  a  heavy  gun   succeeded  it.     ^*A11  right,  you   find   old 


434:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

barky,"  said  he  ;  "I  must  go  count  heads,  or  I'd  love  to 
stay  and  watch  you." 

He  took  tho  men  back  with  him,  leaving  some,  however, 
scattered  along  in  a  chain  to  pass  the  word  up  to  him,  if 
the  schooner  should  try  to  return.  On  the  way  he  met 
Garnet,  who  had  picked  himself  up,  and,  instead  of  joining 
the  pursuit,  had  stopped  a  few  men  to  secure  prisoners, 
protect  the  rescued  ladies,  and  help  the  wounded.  By 
running  down  the  brook  he  succeeded  in  collecting  six  or 
eight  men  from  the  rear  of  the  pursuit,  and  he  insured 
their  presence  by  fetching  them  back  with  him. 

He  now  reported  to  McKizick  that  all  the  women  and 
children  had  decamped  while  the  fight  was  going  on,  and 
were  now  scattered  in  the  woods.  The  man  whom  Hart- 
ley had  posted  as  a  sentrj  over  Mary  had  not  left  his  sta- 
tion to  try  to  stop  them,  though  several  of  the  less  severely 
wounded  pirates  had  escaped  with  them. 

"  But  how  about  Hartley  ?  Where  is  he  ?  Did  I  hear 
he  was  killed  ?  "  asked  McKizick  in  great  concern. 

"  He  is  only  scratched.  He  got  a  slight  cut  on  the 
head,"  answered  Garnet,  without  a  word  of  his  own  part  in 
Hartley's  salvation. 

*' Well,  I'm  glad  of  that,  now,"  remarked  the  worthy 
McKizick  as  he  splattered  into  the  brook.  "  He  has  been 
so  much  cut  up  worrying  over  the  risks  his  sweetheart  run, 
that  it  would  be  hard  for  him  to  get  knocked  over  now. 
She's  a  mighty  pretty  girl — and  we  couldn't  spare  him  in 
the  ship." 

"  I  couldn't  spare  him,  anyhow,"  said  Garnet.  '*  He's 
in  good  hands  now. .  The  Dewhursts  have  him,  and  can't 
do  too  much  for  him.  When  he  got  away  he  managed  to 
creep  in  to  the  ladies,  and  give  them  one  more  good  shock. 
He  was  bleeding  like  a  pig,  and  so  used  up  he  fainted  away." 

"  Aye,  aye.  A  man  in  trouble's  all  right  when  once  the 
women  take  him  in  hand.  I'm  almost  afraid  to  ask  you 
how  many  of  our  men  we  have  lost." 

"That's  the   best    part  of   it.      Bobus  examined  tho 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        435 

wounded  before  I  left — glanced  at  them — there's  six,  and 
some  of  them  frightfully  gashed  ;  but  he  says  there's  not  a 
dangerous  wound  in  the  lot." 

"But  how   many  killed?" 

"  None  at  all,  and  we  needn't  lose  one  of  the  wounded." 

"  Good  !  "  exclaimed  the  first  lieutenant  joyfully.  "  The 
old  man  '11  be  tickled  to  death." 

"  There  he  goes  now,"  said  Garnet,  as  one  of  the  frequent 
reports  of  the  sloop's  guns  came  to  their  ears.  "  Where  is 
the  schooner  ?  " 

"  He  was  standing  out  when  I  left.  The  old  man  '11 
stop  him.  What  a  pity  we  didn't  get  that  fellow  that 
killed  the  girl  !     Is  she  dead  ?  " 

*'  Yes,  poor  young  thing,  she's  at  peace.  You  didn't 
know  that  Hartley  overheard  that  Hackett  planning  to 
take  her  before  the  priest  and  marry  her,  and  take  her 
home  to  her  parents  to  live.  She  was  his  mistress,  and 
they  were  very  fond  of  one  another.  I  hope  the  brute  that 
killed  her  won't  get  away.'* 

"  Little  fear  of  that — hark  !  Hear  the  old  Fish  speak  to 
him  ?  One  comfort.  Garnet,  he  won't  dare  beach  her  now, 
for  there's  an  awful  surf,  and  he  knows  he'll  live  longer  to 
surrender  and  take  his  hanging." 

They  had  now  come  to  the  glen,  and  as  they  stepped 
into  its  circle,  the  sun  burst  out  through  a  rift  in  the  clouds. 
The  flooding  silvery  light  struggled  through  the  foliage 
overhead  to  pour  downward  and  lie  upon  the  earth  in 
bright  patches.  Innumerable  diamond  rain-drops  sparkled 
in  the  leaves.  In  one  instant,  nature,  approving  the  vic- 
tory, ceased  to  frown  and  cheerfully  began  to  smile. 

The  aspect  of  the  glen  was  sombre  enough,  however. 
The  marks  of  the  contest  lay  about  plentifully.  The  wet 
soil  trampled  into  mud,  scraps  of  half-burned  paper  wad- 
ding, scattered  weapons,  blood  stains,  and  the  bodies  of 
fourteen  pirates,  bore  saddening  testimony.  All  the 
wounded  had  been  removed  to  the  houses  by  Doctor 
Bobus,  who  was  then  busy  dressing  their  hurts  ;  and  the 


436  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

seamen  were  showing  sailors'  respect  for  the  dead  by  car- 
rying them  into  the  deserted  quarters.  The  corpse  of  poor 
Catarina  they  had  reverently  and  tenderly  placed  on  the 
bed  in  the  house  in  which  she  had  lived.  Not  a  rough 
seaman  among  them  but  felt  a  divine  pity  for  the  mis- 
guided unfortunate  creature  in  her  tragic  ending. 

Garnet  went  back  at  once  to  the  house  where  he  had  left 
Hartley  in  the  hands  of  the  ladies.  They  had  put  him  on 
the  bed  in  the  outer  room;  and,  after  the  surgeon  had 
sewed  up  the  cut  in  his  scalp,  they  had  washed  clean  his 
bloody  locks,'  expended  the  last  precious  drop  of  hoarded 
cologne  water  on  him,  put  fresh  pillows  under  him,  and,  by 
the  usual  refining  feminine  touches  had  taken  away  all 
hospital  appearances  and  given  to  the  room  a  look  of  home. 
Hartley,  happy  fellow,  was  doing  extremely  well.  As  he 
half  sat,  half  lay  on  the  bed,  propped  up  with  pillows,  he 
looked  pale  and  tired,  but  serenely  blissful.  There  was  a 
great  calm  in  his  so  long  agitated  spirit,  high  tide  of 
peace  in  his  satisfied  soul.  The  waters  of  contentment 
seemed  lapping  the  uttermost  shores  of  his  being. 

When  Garnet  entered,  he  smiled  languidly  and  ex- 
tended his  left  hand — he  would  not  disengage  his  right, 
for  Mary  held  it  and  softly  stroked  it.  *'  I  have  to  thank 
you  for  this,  Will,"  said  he,  in  a  slow,  weak,  contented  tone. 
"  I  can  just  remember  that  you  came  in  somehow." 

"  Pshaw  !  I  just  happened  along,  and  had  nothing  else 
to  do  at  the  time.  I  might  have  been  in  better  business 
than  looking  after  such  a  graceless  scamp  ;  mightn't  I,  Miss 
Mary  ?  " 

"I  think  it  was  the  best  business  in  the  world,"  said 
Mary,  turning  her  lovely  blue  eyes  on  Garnet,  and  frankly 
showing  they  were  full  of  tears  ;  "  you  couldn't  have  found 
anything  better  to  do — and  I  love  you  for  it,"  she  added 
impulsively,  as  the  drops  brimmed  over. 

"  That's  too  much  pay  for  a  little  work,"  said  Garnet, 
rather  uneasily. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  437 

Mary  went  to  him  and  took  his  hand.  "  Ah,  how  can 
I  thank  you  ?  "  said  she. 

Garnet  looked  bashful  and  fidgety.  He  replied  with 
hesitation.  "  You  think  too  much  of  it — I  did  very  little 
— only  held  up  my  sword — besides,"  he  w^ent  on  steadily, 
"  besides,  I  was  serving  myself,  for  I  care  as  much  for  that 
boy  as  you  do." 

Hartley  gave  a  satisfied  little  laugh  from  the  bed. 
"  Thanky,  Will,"  said  he,  "  I'm  not  a  bit  obliged  to  you. 
It's  no  more  than  I  would  do  for  you.  Come  here,  Mary 
— before  I  get  jealous.     Will — speak  to  Mrs.  Dewhurst." 

Garnet  found  that  he  had  forgotten  Mrs.  Dewhurst's 
presence,  and  turned  about  to  greet  her.  She  was  by  no 
means  aggrieved,  being  too  happy  in  her  freedom,  rejoicing 
too  sweetly  over  Mary's  joy,  to  imagine  petty  slights. 
Garnet  spoke  to  her,  assured  her  that  the  Flying  Fish 
would  now  take  her  safely  on  her  journey,  and  then  Went 
with  a  sort  of  mingled  impatience  and  dread  to  Isabel, 
whom  he  had  not  forgotten.  They  clasped  hands  silently, 
and  their  eyes  met.  He  saw  she  had  been  weeping. 
*'  What  are  you  crying  for  ?  "  he  asked  simply,  speak- 
ing low. 

She  murmured  back,  motioning  with  her  head  toward 
the  lovers,  "  Poor  Catarina !  she  loved  him  so."  He  saw  that 
she  remembered  others  then  as  always,  and  would  not  mar 
their  perfect  joy  by  bringing  up  sad  thoughts. 

Just  then  Mr.  Dewhurst  bustled  in  importantly,  carry- 
ing a  bottle.  "  Here,  my  dear,  the  doctor  says  I  may  give 
him  a  teaspoonful  of  this  brandy  in  half  a  glass  of  water. 
A  fine  man,  that  doctor !  Where's  a  spoon  ?  Where's  a 
glass  ?  How  do  you  feel  now,  Harry  ?  That's  right, 
Mary  ;  that's  the  medicine  he  needs." 

Perceiving  Garnet,  he  put  the  bottle  down,  and  wel- 
comed him  cordially  with  both  hands.  Then  he  began  to 
hunt  about  the  room  fussily,  talking  delightedly  the  while. 
"  A  glorious  victory,  my  dear.  Where's  a  spoon  ?  The 
band  's  entirely  broken  up  and  dispersed.    Any  water  here  ? 


438  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

Lieutenant  McKizick  says  we  shall  all  go  aboard  the  Flying 
Fish  as  soon  as  the  weather  and  other  circumstances  will 
})ermit.  Hold  the  glass,  ray  dear.  He  intends  to  burn  all 
these  buildings.  There — that's  enough.  I  can  guess  at 
the  brandy.  We  shall  probably  catch  the  schooner,  too. 
Here,  Harry,  my  boy,  drink  this.  You  give  it  to  him, 
Mary.  He'll  find  it  easier  to  swallow.  Gently  !  Don't 
move  too  suddenly." 

Garnet  made  up  his  mind  while  Mr.  Dewhurst  prattled 
on,  and  asked  Isabel,  "  Will  you  come  out  with  me  ? " 
She  looked  at  him  with  some  surprise.  "  I  want  you  to 
show  me  the  place  where  you  and  Miss  Mary  saw  Harry 
that  night,"  he  added,  explaining  and  somewhat  beseeching. 
She  arose,  and  followed  him  out. 

"  Don't  look  that  way,"  said  he,  the  minute  they  got 
outside  the  house.  "  Look  dead-ahead."  He  wanted  to 
spare  Isabel  the  sight  of  a  desperately  wounded  pirate 
whom  the  men  had  found  in  the  bushes  across  the  glen, 
where  he  had  crept  to  die,  and  whom  they  were  carrying 
into  the  house. 

"  Take  my  arm,"  he  added.  "  This  excitement  may 
have  worked  on  you  more  than  you  know."  She  accepted 
liis  proffered  support,  and  they  walked  on  together  till 
they  came  to  the  brook. 

"  It  was  just  over  there,"  she  said. 

"  Come  and  show  me.  I  want  to  see  the  very  place." 
He  assisted  her  across  the  streamlet,  and  they  entered  the 
undergrowth,  reached  the  great  rock,  and  climbing  up  the 
shelf,  walked  behind  it. 

"  It  was  just  here,"  said  she. 

"  Miss  Terrell " — he  spoke  straightforward,  but  in  a 
voice  so  shaken,  so  different  from  its  usual  quiet  dryness, 
that  she  felt  impelled  to  glance  at  his  pleading  face — 
"Miss  Terrell,  I  have  had  only  one  friend  since  my  mother 
died,  and  I  am  about  to  lose  him  now.  He  is  going  to 
marry  your  cousin.     Somehow  I've  learned  to  care  more 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN    NAVY.  4:39 

for  you  than  I  ever  did  for  him.  Won't  you  make  up  the 
loss  to  me  ?     Won't  you  be  my  wife  ?  " 

She  was  silent  for  a  full  minute,  and  then  replied  in  a 
low  tone :  "  I  am  not  sure  of  my  feelings,  and  I'm  afraid 
you  are  not  sure  of  yours.  I  like  you  too  well  to  risk 
doing  you  a  great  injustice." 

"  Isabel,  you  mustn't  fail  me  now.  I  know  I  love  you. 
I  am  not  asking  you  to  be  my  wife  because  I  am  excited. 
I  made  up  my  mind  to  ask  you  the  first  chance." 

She  made  no  reply,  and  he  went  on  presently  :  "  Tell 
me,  can't  you  feel  for  me  as  your  cousin  does  for  Harry?" 

"No,  not  like  that.  I  couldn't. in  years.  I  respect 
you  and  I  do  like  you.     I  don't  know — "  she  stopped. 

"  Don't  talk  so,"  he  urged.  "  You  and  I  are  both 
alone  in  the  world,  and  we  are  a  kind  who  wouldn't  require 
so  much  in  each  other  as  they  do.  We  could  be  happy 
toijether  as  married  friends." 

"But  we  ought  to  love  one  another,"  she  said,  her 
sweet  even  voice  beginning  to  break. 

"  Yes,  and  I  do  love  you.  Can't  you  care  enough  for 
me?" 

"  I  am  not  sure — that — I  do  not — "  she  stammered,  with 
a  deep  blush.     "  I  don't  quite  know." 

"  Then  why  not  try  me  ?  "  he  pleaded. 

"  I  could  not  try  you  except  all  my  life  long," 

"Dear  Isabel,  that  is  what  I  want." 

"  But  I  should  be  only  a  burden  to  you." 

"  A  burden  !  a  burden  to  me  !  "  he  cried.  "  Why,  how 
can  you — "  he  stopped  and  caught  his  breath.  "  I  forgot 
— I  ought  not  to  have  asked  you— forgot — I  am  too  poor — 
it  was  not  right  for  me  to  ask  yon  to  leave  your  comfort 
for  my  sake."  There  was  decision  and  returning  calmness 
in  his  tones.  He  was  surprised  to  hear  Isabel  speak  quickly, 
*'  Mr.  Garnet !  "  and  looking  at  her,  he  saw  that  her  face 
was  animated  and  her  eyes  sparkling  with  tears.  She  held 
out  her  hands  to  him.  "Take  me  for  what  I  am  worth," 
said  she.     "  Who  could  refuse  such  a  man  ?  " 


440  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

"  What !  "  he  exclaimed,  astonished,  but  grasping  her 
hands.     "  Is  it  true  ?    Do  you  mean  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do.     I  am  safe  to  trust  you."^ 

"  You  will  be  poor." 

"  What  db  I  care  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  with  a  countenance  radiant  as  the 
morning,  and  she  answered  his  look  with  no  shamefaced- 
ness.  "  And  will  you  give  me  a  kiss,  Isabel  ?  "  he  asked, 
with  a  slight  ring  of  doubt  remaining  in  his  voice,  and  as 
if  he  had  hit  upon  a  sovereign  test  for  the  truth. 

"  Yes,  William,"  she  replied  demurely,  dropping  her 
eyes.     She  was  a  true  woman  after  all. 

Garnet  drew  her  toward  him,  and  in  a  very  unlover-like 
manner  satisfied  himself  with  the  proof.  It  was  the  virgin 
impression  from  a  divine  plate,  destined  to  wear  as  long  as 
he  lived,  and  to  remain  in  his  eyes  forever  fresh  and  uri- 
blurred.     He  ought  to  have  been  satisfied. 

"  Let  us  go  back,"  said  he  after  a  time,  during  which  he 
had  for  once  been  soaring.  "  McKizick  may  need  me." 
And  he  added  simply,  after  he  had  started  to  go  and  had 
stopped  to  look  about  lingeringly,  "  I  like  this  place." 

Isabel  had  to  smile.  He  was  not  like  the  lovers  of 
whom  she  had  read,  all  sighing,  and  flames,  and  passionate 
outpourings.  She  liked  him  all  the  better  that  he  could 
already  look  away  from  her  to  the  objects  about  her.  She 
was  the  more  complimented  that  he  showed  her  she  had 
made  the  spot  pleasant,  that  she  was  already  able  to  stir 
his  affection  indirectly.  Yet  she  could  not  restrain  a  gentle 
smile  at  the  odd  simplicity  of  his  words.  He  saw  it,  and 
his  good  homely  face  looked  handsome,  illuminated  by  joy 
and  by  his  smile  responsive.  "  What  are  you  laugh- 
ing at  ?  " 

"  I  couldn't  possibly  explain,"  said  she.  Then  she  be- 
came serious,  and  added,  "  I  tell  you  honestly  that  I 
do  believe  I  care  for  you,  but  it  is  not  as  Mary  does  for 
Henry.  But  I  honor  and  respect  you  so  much  that  I  am 
willing  to  trust  to  the  future.     Anything  lacking  now  will 


A    6TOEY    OF   THE    AMEEICAN    NAVY.  441 

be  made  up  hereafter.  I  think  I  only  need  to  be  with 
you  a  little." 

"I  am  perfectly  satisfied  with  that,"  said  Garnet.  She 
took  his  arm  again,  and  they  walked  back  to  the  house. 
*'  I  must  tell  them,"  he  said,  when  they  reached  the  door. 

She  made  no  reply.  They  went  in  and  found  that 
Mr.  Dewhurst  had  subsided  into  a  chair,  and  was  trying  to 
talk  to  his  wife,  and  not  to  watch  the  young  folks. 

"Mr.  Dewhurst,"  said  Garnet,  as  dryly  as  usual,  "  Isabel 
and  I  are  going  to  be  married — some  time." 

"  Lord  bless  my  soul  !  "  exclaimed  the  astonished  gen- 
tleman. 

"  Bravo,  Will  I  "  cried  Hartley  from  the  bed. 

"  O  Bell,  I'm  so  glad,"  said  Mary,  starting  up  to  go  to 
her*  But  Mrs.  Dewhurst  was  first  and  her  motherly  arms 
were  around  Isabel  in  a  warm  embrace.  "  You  have  chosen 
well,  Bell,"  said  she ;  "  he  is  a  good  man." 

Isabel's  face  w^as  scarlet  as  she  laughed  back,  "  I  had 
no  choice,  aunt.  I  had  to  take  him  to  be  rid  of  him." 
She  added  in  a  whisper,  "  I  know  he  is  good,"  because  her 
aunt  was  looking  as  if  she  did  not  quite  understand  the 
other  remark. 

"  Well,  I  declare ! "  ejaculated  Mr.  Dewhurst,  who 
seemed  just  to  have  caught  his  breath  again.  "I  never 
heard  of  such  a  thing  !  " 

"  I  know  I  haven't  much  to  ofier  your  niece,  sir,"  said 
Garnet ;  "  I  have  only  my  pay  and  a  very  little  I  have 
saved,  but  with  economy — " 

"Of  course,  of  course,"  interrupted  Mr.  Dewhurst. 
"  It  isn't  that.  You  can  live  on  your  pay  well  enough. 
At  one  time  Mrs.  Dewhurst  and  I  hadn't  half  as  much. 
It  beats  everything  !  You  navy  men  have  such  a  dashing 
sudden  w^ay  about  you.  I  was  always  a  friend  to  the 
naval  service,  however.  Well,  I  declare,  wonderful,  won- 
derful !  Give  me  a  kiss,  Bell."  Mr.  Dewhurst  was  so  full 
of  ruminations  of  the  fight,  and  of  his  daughter's  happiness, 
and  of  sudden  pride  in  his  son-in-law,  that  he  was  not  able 
19* 


442  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

to  take  in  the  new  idea  at  once  in  all  its  magnitude.  Nev- 
ertheless, he  found  time  to  renew  secretly  an  old  resolve, 
that  his  sister's  child  should  never  want  while  John  Dew- 
hurst  was  able  to  help  her. 

Garnet  was  as  happy  as  a  king,  in  his  success  with  Isa- 
bel, and  in  the  acquiescence  of  her  relatives.  He  did  not 
feel  entirely  at  his  ease  however,  and  was  glad  that  duty 
took  him  outside  to  McKizick.  The  first  lieutenant  met 
him  with  the  piece  of  news  passed  up  by  his  chain  of  run- 
ners, that  La  Hembrilla  had  tried  to  get  away  to  the  east- 
ward among  the  rocks,  and  that  she  had  struck  on  a  reef. 
"  I've  sent  Robbins  with  his  men  down  the  beach  to  cap- 
ture those  chaps  if  they  manage  to  land,  but  here's  little 
hope  of  the  poor  devils  getting  ashore.  The  gale  is  going 
down,  but  the  surf 's  as  high  as  ever ;  and  there  never  was 
a  boat  could  live  in  such  a  sea." 

It  does  seem  hard  for  them  to  be  drowned  that  way 
after  such  a  good  fight,"  replied  Garnet  charitably.  "  I 
don't  know  but  it's  the  best  thing  though.  A  thousand 
deaths  would  be  none  too  much  for  that  fellow  who  killed 
the  girl — Arrowson's  his  name — and  by  what  the  captain 
said  this  morning,  I  doubt  whether  we  could  do  anything 
to  him  if  we  captured  him.  If  he  only  claimed  to  be  a 
British  subject,  it  wouldn't  help  him  any,  but  if  he's  sharp 
enough  to  appeal  to  the  Spanish  authorities  for  a  trial,  he 
would  get  off".  The  captain  says  that  by  the  law  of  nations, 
Ave  have  no  right  to  make  prisoners  ashore,  and  he  risks 
his  commission  every  time  he  lands  us.  I  have  no  use  for 
a  law  that  prevents  the  capture  of  pirates  wherever  found." 

*'  I've  set  Larkin  to  work  with  the  men  and  what  tools 
he  could  pick  up,  to  dig  the  graves.  There's  a  plenty  of 
provisions,  and  a  little  too  much  liquor.  Had  to  put  a 
marine  over  it." 

"  Pick  a  crew  of  the  best  oarsmen,  and  take  the  third 
cutter  and  go  off  the  ship,  Mr.  Garnet.  Report  to  the 
captain  what  we've  done,  and  say  I  think  we  can  get  out 
to-night  if  the  wind  keeps  going  down,  but  I'd  like  mighty 


A   STORY   OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  443 

well  to  see  the  ship  up  the  river.  If  we  can't  go  out,  and 
the  ship  can't  come  in,  we  can  stay  to-night  in  the  houses 
well  enough.  Find  out  if  he  wants  any  services  over  the 
graves,  and  let  him  know  about  that  poor  girl.  You 
know  " — dropping  his  voice — "  her  baby  was  dead.  That 
Arrowson  killed  it  when  he  killed  the  mother.  The  doctor 
told  me."     The  worthy  fellow  sighed. 

"  Well,  go  off,  and  get  back  as  soon  as  you  can.  I'll 
signal  the  ship  so  she'll  stand  over  to  meet  you.  Stay — 
here's  a  list  of  drugs  and  things  the  doctor  wants." 

"Before  I  go,  McKizick,  you  must  congratulate  me," 
said  Garnet. 

"  What  for  ?  " 

"  Miss  Terrell  and  I  have  made  a  little  matrimonial 
arrangement." 

"  The  devil !  Well — I  congratulate  you,"  responded 
McKizick  doubtfully.  "  You're  taking  a  heap  o'  trouble 
on  yourself,  I  know  that  by  experience — but  I  suppose  you 
know  your  own  business  best."  '     .       . 

Garnet  ran  in  to  tell  Isabel  he  was  going,  and  to  say 
good-by.  The  new  interest  she  showed,  embracing  just  a 
little  sense  of  property  in  him,  was  a  novel  and  delightful 
sensation.  He  took  his  picked  crew  off  down  the  wood 
path  with  his  heart  singing  and  the  world  looking  lovely. 

It  did  not  require  much  time  to  reach  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  for  the  eastern  shore  now  made  a  good  lee ;  but  once 
beyond  the  point,  the  hard  work  began.  The  sea  was 
running  high,  and  the  head  wind  was  still  strong  enough 
to  make  its  opposition  felt.  But  the  men  were  stout  and 
cheerful,  the  boat  a  good  one,  the  officer  encouraging,  the 
sun  shone  brightly,  and  the  ship  saw  them  and  was  run- 
ning down  to  meet  them.  They  gained  yard  after  yard 
with  a  slow  celerity,  which  was  speed  only  in  view  of  their 
obstacles.  The  boat  tossed  and  swung  between  heaven 
and  earth,  riding  loftily  on  the  crests,  sinking  deeply,  lost 
to  sight  in  the  valleys  of  the  trough,  in  a  variable,  surpris- 
ing, giddy  manner,  fit  to  make  a  landsman  despair,  an4 


4.4.4:  LOVE    AYLOAT. 

wish  he  had  never  sold  his  farm  to  go  to  sea.  The  sloop 
hove  to  as  far  in  shore  as  she  could,  and  so  near  them, 
that  with  the  aid  of  her  drift,  they  were  not  long  delayed 
in  reacliing  her  lee.  It  was  a  delicate  thing  to  board  her, 
for  her  massive  motions,  as  well  as  her  rock-like  solidity, 
threatened  the  safety  of  the  bobbing  boat.  Garnet  accom- 
plished it  with  agility,  and  directly  the  cutter  was  hooked 
on  and  hoisted  to  her  davits,  crew  and  all.  The  ship  was 
filled  away,  and  Garnet  went  into  the  cabin  with  the  cap- 
tain, to  make  his  report. 

"  Sit  down,  Mr.  Garnet.  You  look  tired,  but  I  know 
you've  been  successful." 

*'  Yes  sir  ;  very  successful,"  answered  he,  w^ith  a  lurking 
smile.  He  took  a  chair  and  went  on  to  report  in  his  terse 
realistic  manner,  which  left  little  to  the  imagination, 
though  so  few  words  were  employed.  Hartley's  explana- 
tions to  the  captain,  of  the  topography,  made  the  task  all 
the  easier.  Agreeably  to  the  wish  of  McKizick  the  narra- 
tor spoke  of  the  peculiarities  and  beauties  of  the  glen  and 
Haven  in  such  a  manner  as  to  provoke  curiosity.  He  also 
spoke  of  burying  the  dead,  and  told  Catarina's  story,  and 
declared  that  it  was  a  shame  for  her  delicate  body  to  be 
put  under  the  ground  like  that  of  an  animal ;  and  finally 
he  gave  McKizick's  message  about  coming  into  the  river. 

Captain  Merritt  at  once  said  he  would  prefer  to  go  in, 
because  he  saw  that  loaded  boats  could  not  pull  off  that 
day,  and  he  did  not  wish  the  men  to  sleep  on  shore,  in  that 
place.  "  Beside,"  he  added  smilingly,  "  I  want  to  make 
the  ladies  feel  comfortable  and  safe,  and  Mr.  Hartley — it 
would  hardly  be  right  to  separate  him  from  Miss  Dewhurst 
and  make  him  uneasy  now.  He  has  seen  a  rough  bit  of 
service  lately  and  has  gone  through  a  good  deal  on  her 
account." 

"  You  may  count  me  in  wnth  him,  sir." 

"  What  I  Oh,  no,  Mr,  Garnet,  you  are  too  solid  an  old 
bachelor  to  be  affected  like  your  friend," 

"Anyhow,   I   haye   the    s^me    right   to   want   tp   S(30 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  445 

the  ladies  safe  on  board.  Miss  Terrell  has  given  me 
her  word." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sir.  Miss  Terrell  is  a  sterling 
young  M^onian.  A  good  wife  is  a  treasure  from  the  Lord — 
and  makes  a  man  none  the  worse  sailor,  say  what  they  will. 
I  see  I  shall  have  to  go  now — if  the  wind  serves — let's  take 
a  look.  I'm  heartily  glad  we  had  no  loss  of  life,"  he  added, 
as  they  went  on  deck  again.  "  That  first  attack  was  a  bad 
business  for  us."  A  look  at  the  compass  showed  them  that 
the  wind  was  now  to  the  east  of  south,  and  blowing  much 
less  violently.  "  That  will  do  very  well,"  said  the  captain. 
"  Put  her  head  northwest  by  west,  Mr.  Briggs,  and  get  the 
foresail  on  her." 

While  the  ship  was  paying  off  on  her  new  course,  he 
began  to  tell  Garnet  about  La  Hembrilla.  "  You  see  the 
schooner  has  broken  up  already,  sir ;  not  a  stick  left.  Give 
me  the  glass,  quartermaster."  He  took  a  steady  look 
through  it  at  the  shore.  "  The  marines  are  hauling  up  the 
bodies  now,  pulling  them  out  of  the  edge  of  the  surf  up  on 
the  beach. 

"  She  struck  on  that  reef  over  yonder,  just  this  side  the 
surf  now.  When  she  came  out  I  was  watching  for  her,  and 
I  made  out  our  men  running  down  to  the  point  and  firing 
at  her.  She  tried  the  usual  channel  first,  but  she  had  to  lay 
up  too  fine  to  fetch  out.  Besides,  we  were  making  excel- 
lent practice  at  her,  considering  the  sea.  When  she  went 
about,  I  expected  she  would  run  back  and  surrender ;  and  I 
was  glad  of  it,  for  I  thought  likely  the  prisoners  were 
aboard ;  but  instead  of  that  she  ran  off  to  the  eastward 
among  the  rocks.  I  suppose  those  fellows  knew  some  light 
draught  channel  through  there,  but  it  was  the  maddest 
looking  attempt  I  ever  saw.  Directly  I  caught  the  trick. 
They  hoped  to  run  through  that,"  waving  his  hand  toward 
the  confusion  of  rocks  around  which  the  waves  still  raged 
and  foamed — "  and  get  a  good  start  by  going  inside  of  Pes*- 
cador  while  we  tacked  twice  to  go  around  outside.  I 
opened  on  him  again  briskly,  and  between  the  sea  and  our 


416  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

shot,  he  steered  a  wretched  course.  They  nearly  cleared 
the  reef,  and  they  might  have  escaped  us  after  all  if  they 
had.  When  I  saw  the  surf  catch  her,  I  stopped  firing  at 
once.  Her  day  was  evidently  over.  Every  breaker  hove 
her  further  in  toward  the  rocks.  They  tried  to  hoist  the 
mainsail  to  give  her  more  way,  but  they  didn't  begin  soon 
enough.  A  big  wave  picked  her  up,  sir,  like  a  feather,  and 
carried  her  in  on  its  top,  and  threw  her  on  the  reef.  It 
fairly  flung  her  down  on  the  rocks.  Then  every  wavo 
broke  clean  over  her.  A  man  had  no  more  chance  for  life 
th^n  a  baby." 

While  they  talked,  the  ship  ran  swiftly  before  the  wind, 
rolling  broad  semicircles  of  foam  out  on  the  water  before 
her  bows.  Soon  the  river  mouth  was  gained,  and  she  stood 
in.  Directly  she  was  in  a  comparative  calm,  rising  and 
falling  with  a  dignified  motion,  on  the  dying  swells  of  the 
outside  surges,  but  still  sailing  swiftly.  The  sails  were 
clewed  up  and  the  anchor  dropped,  off  the  creek. 

Captain  Merritt  took  his  prayer-book,  and  went  ashore 
in  the  gig  at  once,  leaving  Garnet  in  command  of  the 
ship,  with  instructions  to  furl  the  sails,  make  all  snug,  and 
defer  the  men's  supper  till  the  shore  party  returned. 

Garnet  walked  the  quarter-deck  with  Briggs,  giving 
him  rather  a  disconnected  account  of  the  fight,  and  secretly 
longing  for  the  face  in  which  he  could  now  seek  his 
responses.     His  heart  was  with  his  treasure. 

That  did  not  prevent  him  from  performing  his  duty, 
however.  When  the  wounded  men  were  brought  off,  he 
actively  assisted  the  surgeon  to  get  them  on  board.  He 
had  a  cot  slung,  put  whips  on  the  main-yard  and  stay,  and 
unshipped  the  main  hatch  ladders.  One  by  one  the  hurt 
men  were  gently  lifted  in  the  air,  swung  on  board,  and 
lowered  below,  where  they  could  be  carefully  carried  into 
the  sick  bay.  Hartley  did  not  come  with  the  rest,  Dr. 
Bobus  stopping  a  moment  to  explain  that  he  was  well 
enough  to  be  up  and  walking  about. 

At  about  six  o'clock  a  dense  smoke  rose  above  the  tree 


A   STOEY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAVY.  44:7 

tops,  and  blew  inland  in  black  clouds.  This  continued  in 
full  volume  for  half  an  hour,  when  it  began  to  die  away. 
Then  the  captain  appeared  at  the  water's  edge,  with  his 
boat's  crew  and  the  ladies,  and  shortly  the  whole  expedi- 
tion followed.  Garnet  saw  that  Hartley  was  carefully 
helped  into  the  gig,  in  which  Mr.  Dewhurst  and  his  family 
also  took  places,  and  after  that  he  had  no  eyes  for  the  rest 
of  the  embarkation.  He  watched  the  slender  white  boat 
as  she  came,  dart-like,  toward  the  ship,  before  her  gay 
white-ash  breeze.  Soon  he  made  out  Isabel,  and  then  he 
saw  her  only.  It  was  a  wonderful  satisfaction  to  find  that 
she  was  looking  back  at  him. 

He  had  had  the  side  ladders  shipped  for  them,  and  he 
went  down  on  the  grating  to  help  them  out  of  the  boat 
If  Isabel  was  not  very  demonstrative,  Garnet  still  found  a 
sufficient  pleasure  in  her  sweet  thanks  for  his  small  services, 
and  in  the  warm  grasp  of  her  hand.  He  met  his  betrothed 
uncorrupted,  and  his  pure  fresh  manhood  was  therefore 
sensitive  to  feel  and  to  enjoy  her  slightest  favor.  The 
restraint  of  years  had  now  a  delicious  reward ;  though  to 
one  like  him  it  had  been  its  own  reward  all  along. 

When  they  were  all  upon  the  spar-deck  of  the  sloop, 
the  captain  took  off  his  cap  and  bowed.  "  Friends,"  said 
he,  "  when  you  visited  us  in  Santa  Cruz,  you  were  very 
welcome ;  but  the  welcome  we  gave  you  then  cannot  com- 
pare with  the  present.  It  is  a  pleasure  I  cannot  express  to 
have  you  safe  on  board,  and  to  think  that  I  have  been  the 
means,  through  my  gallant  associates,  of  getting  you  here. 
This  ship  is  your  home  for  the  present,  and  we  will  try  to 
make  it  a  happy  one." 

"  My  dear  Captain  Merritt,"  said  Mr.  Dewhurst,  "  you 
will  have  to  imagine  how  glad  we  are  to  get  here.  We 
thank  you,  sir,  and  the  brave  officers  and  men  who  have 
fought  for  us,  and  saved  us — we  thank  you  from  our  hearts." 

"  We  don't  deserve  any  thanks,"  responded  the  captain. 
"  We  have  only  done  a  very  agreeable  duty.  Besides,  I 
believe  that  some  of  us  have  been  serving  ourselves  as 


4:18  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

well  as  our  country."  His  eye  twinkled  as  it  rested  on 
the  two  friends,  who  were  in  near  proximity  to  the  two 
young  ladies.  "  But  come  below — you  must  be  w^eary — 
come  into  the  cabin."  They  walked  off,  leaving  the  two 
friends  somewhat  disconsolate ;  but  at  the  hatch  the  cap- 
tain stopped  to  call  back  to  them.  "  Gentlemen,  I  shall 
expect  to  see  you  in  the  cabin  after  supper.  Mr.  Garnet, 
send  the  carpenter's  mate  in  to  me,  and  tell  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, as  soon  as  he  gets  aboard,  that  I  want  to  see  him." 

What  a  jolly  crowd  there  was  around  the  ward-room 
table  that  night  at  supper !  What  spirits  they  were  in, 
and  what  cheerful  talk  they  had,  and  how  they  laughed  at 
the  tiniest  little  jokelet !  McKizick,  when  the  meal  was 
over,  insisted  that  all  should  drink  to  his  sentiment,  and 
sent  his  own  bottle  of  particular  Scotch  whiskey  around. 
*'  Gentlemen  !  "  he  cried,  "  here's — at  home  or  abroad,  fair 
weather  or  foul,  peace  or  war — Success  to  the  Service  !  " 

"  To  the  new  service,  too,  Hal,"  w^hispered  Garnet  slyly. 
Hartley  saw  the  point  and — smiled. 

Then  they  all  went  up  on  the  gun-deck  and  smoked  ,a 
pipe — to  our  two  friends  the  pipe  of  peace — while  the 
merry  talk  ran  on.  Already  the  men  were  dancing,  singing, 
smoking,  yarning,  and  laughing  on  the  deck  above,  enjoy- 
ing rest  and  the  proud  sense  of  success  after  labor  and 
fight.  Already  the  uproar  of  the  boisterous  midshipmen, 
celebrating  the  victory  by  keeping  Saturday  night  on  a 
Thursday,  could  be  heard  at  intervals  from  the  steerage. 
McKizick  hadn't  the  heart  to  stop  them  then. 

Hartley  and  Garnet  did  not  linger  long  with  their 
lively  messmates,  but  took  their  departure  early,  and  steered 
a  straight  course'  aft  to  the  cabin  door.  Dularge  watched 
them  with  envious  eyes,  for  he  was  still  waiting  an  oppor- 
tunity to  captivate  Mary. 

"  Will,  old  chap,"  said  Hartley  jocosely,  on  the  way. 
"  It's  not  surprising  for  me  to  be  going  on  this  errand,  but 
you — I  can't  quite  take  that  in — its  unnatural." 

"  I'm  a  good  man  to-night,  Harry." 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  449 

«  Sure  of  that  ?    How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"I  feel  good.  There's  so  little  meanness  left  in  me  that 
a  million  times  as  much  wouldn^t  make  a  fair  target  for  a 
sermon  at  ten  paces." 

"  Why,  you  must  be  happy  !  " 

"  Happy  !  happy 's  no  word  for  it.    I  feel  like — a  whale." 

"  *  Very  like  a  whale.'  Look  out,  or  you'll  be  spouting 
in  rhyme  next." 

"  And  I  owe  it  all  to  her — no,  a  part  to  your  advice 
and  example." 

"  Hush  !  here  we  are.  Orderly,  tell  the  captain  Mr. 
Garnet  and  Mr.  Hartley  are  here."  The  orderly  came  back 
in  a  minute  and  showed  them  in.  They  were  met  with 
cheerful  hand  shakings,  none  less  than  cordial.  Hartley 
was  at  first  the  centre  o^  attraction,  all  asking  after  his 
wound  and  urging  him  to  be  careful;  and  then  they  joined 
in  a  pleasant  talk,  all  together.  That  did  not  last  long, 
however,  because  directly  Hartley  forgot  etiquette,  and 
drew  Mary  apart  into  a  murmured  conversation,  mainly  in- 
teresting to  themselves  ;  and  Garnet  followed  his  example. 
The  old  folks  did  very  well  without  them,  for  the  young 
couples  were  walking  over  a  delightful  part  of  life's  journey 
just  then,  which  their  manifest  joy  brought  freshly  back  to 
the  memory  of  their  elders.  Full  of  sympathy,  they  let  the 
young  folks  alone  in  peace.  The  captain  said  to  his  guests, 
in  a  whisper,  "  It  must  be  a  satisfaction  to  you,  since  your 
girls  have  to  go,  that  their  husbands  will  be  two  of  the 
best  young  men  in  the  service."  They  could  assent  then, 
with  no  selfish  thought  of  loss  or  sorrow  in  giving  up  their 
maidens.  The  times  had  changed.  The  cabin  was  a  very 
quiet  room  to  have  seven  happy  people  talking  in  it; 
though  loudness  is,  after  all,  no  sign  of  joy. 

When  -eight  bells  struck,  Garnet  got  up  reluctantly  and 
said  he  must  take  his  watch  on  deck.  He  could  not  keep 
his  eyes  off  Isabel,  who  seemed  to  respond  to  his  unex- 
pressed wish.     She  arose  also,  and  blushingly  declared  she 


450  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

would  like  to  go,  too ;  she  wanted  to  see  what  the  lonely 
watches  sailors  complained  of  were  like. 

Captain  Merritt  smiled  at  her.  "  Miss  Isabel,  I'm  afraid 
you  will  never  find  that  out  ;  for  when  you  go  to  see,  the 
loneliness  must  depart." 

*'  Thank  you,"  answered  she.  "  You  mean  I  should  be 
company  of  some  kind,  even  if  bad.     But  may  I  go  ?  " 

*'  It  is  against  the  rules,"  said  the  captain,  still  smiling ; 
"  but  at  a  time  like  this  we  must  treat  resolution  and  let 
up  on  the  rules.     We  may  never  hav6  another  chance." 

Isabel  threw  her  shawd  on  and  went  out  with  Garnet, 
who  took  advantage  of  the  occasion  to  tell  her,  "  The  desert 
were  a  paradise,  if  thou  wert  there."  It  was  a  pity,  but 
this  was  not  the  last  time  the  regulations  were  invaded  in 
the  well-governed  ship  during  tl^e  following  weeks. 

This  was  the  first  chance  Garnet  had  had  to  talk  for 
any  time  openly  with  Isabel.  He  relieved  the  deck,  and 
then  cleared  the  coast  by  sending  the  middy  on  duty  to 
keep  his  watch  on  the  forecastle,  out  of  ear-shot.  He  had 
no  mind  to  be  overheard  and  reported  in  the  steerage  by 
an  irreverent  youngster. 

Garnet  was  too  sensible,  and  remembered  Isabel's  dec- 
laration of  partial  feeling  too  well,  to  run  any  risk  by 
speaking  out  all  he  felt.  He  meant  to  let  her  see  him  as 
he  truly  was,  without  disguise,  and  to  wait  for  fuller  love 
to  ripen  if  it  w^ould.  She  understood  it  and  liked  it ;  but 
he  was,  nevertheless,  pleading  for  his  affection  in  many  a 
•way  which  she  alone  recognized.  His  unwittingly  tender 
tone  was  a  caress  that  pleased  her,  his  watchfulness  for  her 
comfort,  a  support  she  accepted.  He  was  well  satisfied 
that  the  splendid  creature  he  loved  clung  to  his  arm, 
w^alked  by  his  side,  listened  and  answered.  He  knew  that 
besides  love  there  are  other  things  equally  noble,  which 
must  count  much  through  life  to  all  true  souls,  and  that 
might  well  serve  as  mirrors,  in  which  he  and  Isabel  could 
see  each  other's  heart. 

She  told  him  about  what  had  been  done  at  the  glen 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  451 

after  he  had  left.  "  Mr.  McKizick  asked  us  to  see  if  we 
could  find  out  anything  about  Gatarina  from  her  things. 
He  wanted  to  know  her  name,  to  put  it  on  a  head-board  ho 
was  preparing  for  her  grave.  Henry  had  told  us  about 
what  he  overheard,  and  how  he  suspected  she  might  be 
of  good  family ;  and  we  thought  maybe  we  could  find  out 
who  she  was,  and  send  word  to  her  relatives.  Aunt  and 
Mary  and  I  went  to  look  in  the  house  she  had  lived  in. 
Oh,  Will,  she  lay  there  so  sad.  Poor  child  !  She  was 
only  a  child,  but  she  loved  that  man  so  much.  And  to 
die  so ! "  She  stopped  with  her  voice  full  of  tears,  and 
was  silent  for  aWhile.  "  The  sailors  had  made  a  coflin  for 
her  before  Mr.  McKizick  gave  any  order,  and  she  had  on  a 
pure  white  dress.  Mary  and  I  went  out  by  the  great  rock, 
and  gathered  some  wild  flowers,  and  put  them  on  hei 
bosom;  and  Mary  took  off  her  little  jet  cross,  and  placed  it 
in  her  hand.  Then  we  helped  aunt  to  examine  the  bureau- 
drawers,  and  the  chests,  and  the  wardrobe  ;  but  none  of 
her  clothing  was  marked  with  her  name.  There  were  some 
books  on  a  shelf,  but  they  all  seemed  to  belong  to  Captain 
Hackett  except  one,  a  small  station  book  in  Spanish — a 
prayer  book — that  looked  old  and  worn,  as  if  it  had  been 
used  a  long  long  time.  But  there  was  no  name  in  it.  She 
had  handsome  gowns,  and  French  gloves,  and  ribbons,  and 
pieces  of  uncut  silk,  and  India  muslin,  and  velvet,  and 
two  beautiful  caraePs-hair  shawls,  and  a  great  many  jewels, 
but  not  a  sign  to  tell  who  she  was. 

"  When  we  were  captured  by  Captain  Hackett,  he  was 
very  polite  and  careful  of  our  comfort ;  and  he  seemed  to 
take  a  liking  to  Mary  and  me  that  he  kept  up  as  long  as  he 
lived.  He  had  some  real  good  traits,  Will.  He  loved 
Catarina,  and  was  tender  of  her,  and  Mr.  McKizick  told 
ns  how  bravely  he  acted.  He  was  very  brave  for  us  once," 
She  turned  pale  and  shuddered  at  the  recollection  of  the 
night  on  which  the  mates  had  attacked  Mary  and  her. 
"  Perhaps  Henry  told  you.  When  we  were  on  the  schooner 
he  talked  to  us  about  Catarina  a  good  deal.     Once  he  said 


452  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

she  had  got  a  notion  she  wasn't  married  to  him,  that  made 
her  unhappy.  He  said  the  marriage  was  not  regular,  but 
declared  God  would  own  it ;  and  he  begged  us  if  she  asked 
anything  about  it,  not  to  worry  her." 

"  Did  you  promise  ?  "  asked  Garnet. 

*'  No  ;  but  when  we  saw  Catarina,  and  saw  how  sweet 
and  unspoiled  she  was,  we  resolved  to  keep  up  the  deceit 
if  she  came  to  us  :  but  shcnever  asked  a  word." 

'*  He  was  right.  God  w^ould  own  love  like  theirs,  if 
men  wouldn't,"  said  Garnet. 

"  It  was  wonderful  to  see  her  devotion  to  him,  and 
how"  good  and  sweet  she  was  after  living  among  such 
people." 

"  Did  you  go  to  her  funeral  ?  " 

"Yes,  all  of  us  went,  the  officers  and  all  the  sailors. 
Mr.  McKiziek  is  more  tender-hearted  than  he  looks,  for  he 
would  not  lay  her  in  the  glen  with  the  pirates.  When  he 
came  in  to  tell  us  all  was  ready,  and  ask  us  to  go,  he  said 
to  me  we  would  have  to  go  up  the  steps  in  the  rock,  for 
he  didn't  like  the  idea  of  burying  that  pale  pretty  little 
thing  along  with  the  pirates,  but  up  on  the  cliff  she  could 
watch  over  the  place  she  had  lived  in,  and  it  was  lighter 
and  clearer  up  there.  When  we  went  up,  the  sailors  were 
already  filling  up  one  grave.  Mr.  McKiziek  hadn't  told  us 
he  meant  for  Captain  Hackett  to  lie  by  his  wife.  I  believe 
he  thought  that  in  some  way  they  would  sleep  better,  side 
by  side.     Is  he  that  w^ay  ?  "" 

*'  Yes,  I  have  noticed  it  many  a  time.  Did  the  captain 
read  the  service  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  he  read  it  beautifully.  Poor,  sad  little  girl ! 
Some  of  the  men  and  officers  were  crying.  Forgive  me — 
I  can't  help  thinking  about  it,  now  that  I  am  so  happy. 

^'  When  we  came  away  the  head-boards  had  been  put 
up,  and  we  passed  close  by  them.  On  one  was,  'John 
Hackett,  a  brave  man,'  with  the  date  ;  and  on  the  other, 
*  Catarina,  wife  of  John  Hackett.'  Oh,  it's  too  sad  to 
think  of.     They  loved  one  another  so  well,  and  now  that  is 


A    BTOKY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  453 

all  gone,  and  all  each  has  in  this  world  is  a  piece  of 
board,  which  will  decay  in  a  few  years." 

"  We  cannot  tell,"  said  he.  "  Perhaps  because  they 
loved  much,  much  will  be  forgiven.  God  may  be  more 
merciful  than  we  are  taught,  Isabel.  Such  things  as  you 
have  been  telling  me,  make  me  feel  like  a  Universalist  for 
the  time.  It  would  make  me  very  mournful,  to  think  that 
a  part  of  my  punishment  in  a  future  world  would  be  to 
lose  the  remembrance  of  you,  and  be  forgotten  by  you." 

"  It  does  seem  as  if  we  were  forced  back  upon  such  a 
belief  for  consolation,  sometimes.  Somebody  we  love  dies, 
and  it  is  not  satisfying  to  be  told  that  at  the  last  moment 
he  may  have  repented  enough  to  be  saved.  We  want  to 
feel  sure  of  it.  There  was  my  dear  aunt,  who  died  two 
years  ago.  She  was  a  sweet  and  good  woman,  but  nothing 
could  induce  her  to  talk  about  religious  matters,  and  she 
did'nt  belong  to  the  church." 

They  talked  on  together  till  nine  o'clock.  The  sky  was 
now  clear,  and  the  wind  had  fallen  to  a  moderate  breeze, 
further  kept  away  from  them  by  the  high  land  and  the 
trees  upon  the  eastern  shore  of  the  river.  A  mellow 
gibbous  moon  rode  high  in  the  zenith,  giving  the  greatest 
light  and  casting  the  least  amount  of  shadow.  The  breeze 
was  pleasantly  cool  and  moist,  but  it  sighed  sometimes 
aloft  in  the  ship's  rigging,  when  a  fresher  breath  than 
usual  passed  over  the  rustling  tree-tops.  It  sighed  sadly, 
as  if  it  held  the  complaint  of  the  voiceless  slain.  And  the 
continuous  rushing  boom  of  the  organ  surf,  played  a  long 
anthem  for  the  dead,  the  yearning  lament  of  the  sea  for 
its  lost  children,  no  more  to  roam  the  sunny  wave. 


454:  '  LOVE   AFLOA.T. 


CHAPTER    XXXIIL 


TXTEXT  morning  when  Mrs.  Dewhurst  and  the  ladies  went 
-L^  on  deck  after  breakfast,  they  found  the  good  ship  at  sea, 
ahnost  out  of  sight  of  land,  and  running  along  to  the  west- 
ward with  an  easy  swinging  roll,  under  a  cloud  of  canvas 
before  a  quartering  breeze.  Everything  was  in  a  condition 
of  almost  painful  neatness,  from  the  pale  deck,  fuzzy  from 
the  holy-stones,  and  the  snowy  paint  fresh  scrubbed,  to  the 
glistening  guns  and  the  shining  bright  work.  Since  early 
dawn  the  men  had  been  at  work;  and  they  had  in  the  five 
busy  hours  of  labor  picked  up  the  anchor  left  up  the  river, 
as  well  as  the  kedge,  got  the  ship  under  way,  and  holy- 
stoned the  spar-deck. 

Mr.  Larkin  met  the  fair  party  at  the  ladder,  and  assisted 
them  up  with  the  greatest  gallantry.  Mr.  Maskelyne,  the 
midshipman  of  the  quarter-deck,  at  once  volunteered  to 
bring  up  chairs,  but  they  preferred  to  stand,  and  he  got 
only  an  introduction — which  indeed,  was  the  astute  young 
gentleman's  object  all  the  while. 

The  crew  were  enjoying  their  after-breakfast  smoke. 
There  was  no  sign  among  them  of  the  hard  service  through 
which  they  had  been,  except  that  now  and  then  a  bandage 
or  an  arm  in  a  sling  would  be  seen.  The  tars  were  jolly 
this  morning,  haw-hawing  at  accounts  of  the  late  fight 
given  by  some  forecastle  wits,  and  chaffing  messmates  who 
had  been  so  unlucky  as  to  bring  away  wounds  as  souvenirs. 

Our  two  friends  were  smoking  on  the  gun-deck,  and 
watching.  When  they  saw  the  girls  appear  they  made  a 
shallow  pretence  of  finishing  their  pipes,  and  they  went 
away  together  directly.  No  one  in  the  party  they  left 
behind  was  deceived,  except  Dularge,  for  by  this  tim6  the 
relations  of  the  young  folks  were  pretty  well  understood  by 
nearly  everybody.  Indeed,  Garnet  had  meant  they  should 
be,  for  he  hated  mysteries  on  their  own  account,  and  knew 


A    STOKY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  4:55 

how  much  a  matter-of-fact  and  suitable  publicity  weakens 
the  sense  of  the  ridiculous.  A  meaning  smile  went  around 
the  group.     "  Hartley's  the  luckiest  fellow,"  said  Briggs. 

''  How  so,  Mr.  Briggs  ?  "  asked  Doctor  Bobus,  who  did 
not  smoke  and  therefore  talked  the  more. 

"He's  always  in  luck.  Anybody  can  see  the  impres- 
sion he  has  made.  Such  a  beauty,  too — I  call  it  a  wound 
well  paid  for." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Briggs,"  said  Bobus,  with  aged  wisdom, 
"  you're  young  and  sentimental  yet.  You  look  only  at  the 
rosies  and  posies,  and  love  and  dove  part  of  it.  I  admit 
that  it  is  a  very  pretty  thing  to  see  two  nice  young  people 
honestly  in  love — don't  misunderstand  me,  sir — especially 
when  they  are  so  devoted  and  good-looking  a  pair  as  our 
friends  ;  but  may  be  a  man  might  wish  after  awhile  that 
his  wound  had  been  fatal  before  it  had  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  that  particular  woman.  1  mean  no  personal  allu- 
sions, sir." 

"Pshaw, .doctor,"  said  McKizick  abruptly,  "  stick  out 
a  little  more  slack.  A  dry  old  medico  is  about  as  unhu- 
man  a  creature  as  walks  on  two  legs." 

Bobus  answered  warmly.  "You  didn't  listen  very 
well  to  what  I  said,  Mr.  McKizick.  I  consider  that  the 
affection  of  the  sexes  furnishes  our  chief  inducement  to 
effort  and  our  greatest  happiness  in  life  ;  and  I  said  a  min- 
ute ago  that  I  admired  the  pretty  sight  of  two  such  lovers 
as  we  have  on  board.  But  still,  a  young  man  might  wisely 
use  a  little  judgment  in  his  choice." 

"  Judgment  be  d — d  !  I've  no  use  for  any  young  fel- 
low that's  cold  blooded  enough  to  go  looking  and  picking 
over  the  points  of  the  girls  as  I  would  a  ship's.  If  all  the 
young  men  waited  to  marry  on  judgment,  and  till  they 
had  just  the  right  woman — why,  there's  one  woman  for 
every  man,  you  know  ;  and  who  would  support  the  old 
maids,  then  ?  not  the  d — d  old  bachelors  !  what  would  be- 
come of  the  population  of  the  world  ?  "    Doctor  Bobus 


456  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

replied  retractively,  and  as  if  borne  down  by  a  weighty 
rush  of  argument : 

"  There's  something  in  that — something  in  that,  I  admit 
Still  you  can  imagine  that  such  an  indiscriminate  trusting 
to  nature  would  make  some  men  unhappy." 

"  Oh,  the  devil  take  the  hindmost.  Any  way  you  put 
it,  the  natural  way  is  for  the  greatest  good  of  the  greatest 
number." 

"  Yes,  doubtless  so,  doubtless  so.  Still  a  youngster  will 
make  none  the  worse  husband,  for  thinking  what  kind  of  a 
wife  he  will  need,  and  what  kind  of  a  mother  the  babies 
will  need,  and  whether  he  will  be  able  to  provide  for  the 
mother  and  the  babies." 

Dularge  put  in.  *'I  would  do  as  McKizick  says  at 
general  quarters." 

"  How's  that  ?  "  asked  McKizick. 

"  Cast  loose,  and  provide.  Paint  'em  lead  color,  and 
turn  'em  out  to  pasture.  .  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  " 

Kobbins  spoke  contemptuously.  "  What's  the  use  of  a 
man's  marrying,  anyhow  ?  " 

The  doctor  answered  him.  "  In  some  peculiar  cases,  it 
is  best  not,  sir — the  man  serves  the  world  best  by  remain- 
ing single,  and  is  much  more  comfortable  beside — there's 
no  use,  as  you  say.     Yours  may  be  such  a  case." 

''  I  believe  you." 

"I  don't  see  what  you  and  Briggs  are  driving  at,  doctor, 
talking  about  Hartley's  luck,  and  young  lovers,  and  all 
that,"  said  Dularge. 

"Is  it  possible  you  have  not  observed  anything,  sir?  " 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Dularge,  surprised. 

"  We  all  think  Miss  Dewhurst  shows  a  preference  for 
our  friend  Hartley." 

"  Oh,  pshaw,  that's  all  in  your  eye." 

"  No,  sir-ee  !  You  just  notice  for  yourself,"  said  Briggs, 
earnestly. 

"  Well,  I  must  say  I  can't  approve  her  taste." 

"I  fancy,"  answered    Bobus    coolly,    "that   your   dis- 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN   NAYT.  457 

approYal  won't  change  it,  at  any  rate.     We  all  think  she 
has  manifested  the  best  of  taste." 

"  Yes,  by  Jiminy,"  spoke  out  McKizick.  "  If  we  were 
all  as  fine  a  fellow  as  Hartley,  we  would  find  ourself  im- 
proved." 

"  I  wish  I  knew  how  to  do  my  duty  as  well  as  he,"  said 
Briggs. 

"  Dularge,  Hartley's  a  brick,"  said  Robbins. 

"  He's  a  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  I 
wish  him  joy,"  said  the  paymaster. 

Dularge  recollected  other  occasions  when  he  had  been 
victimized  by  a  combination  among  his  messmates.  "  It 
won't  do,  gentlemen.  This  fish  won't  bite.  You  can't 
fool  me.  I'm  going  to  put  in  an  appearance,  and  pay  my 
little  addresses  myself." 

The  party  burst  into  a  shout  of  hilarity,  which  turned 
into  laughter  so  hearty,  unaffected,  and  prolonged,  that 
it  forced  a  conviction  of  the  truth  through  Dularge's  dull 
pomposity.  He  stood  reddening  furiously,  until  McKizick 
got  his  breath  enough  to  exclaim  exhausted ly,  "  Well, 
you're  the  d — dest  fool,  Dularge  !  "  whereupon  he  walked 
away  very  angry  and  ashamed. 

A  man-of-war  is  not  designed  with  reference  to  the 
comfort  of  her  rare  passengers,  and  least  of  all  to  that  of 
ladies.  When  ladies  are  taken  from  port  to  port,  as  does 
sometimes  happen,  preparations  are  made  for  them,  even 
to  building  new  rooms  by  changing  the  position  of  old 
bulkheads.  This  had  not  been  practicable  on  board  the 
Flying  Fish,  and,  beside,  Captain  Merritt  did  not  expect 
his  guests  to  remain  very  long.  He  supposed,  as  they  did, 
that  they  would  leave  the  ship  in  the  Havana,  so  he  merely 
turned  over  one  of  his  state-rooms  to  the  ladies  for  a  pri- 
vate apaitraent.  The  carpenter's  mate  widened  the  bunk 
so  that  it  would  hold  two  persons  comfortably,  and  a  cot 
w^as  slung  above  for  the  third. 

The  cot  was  the  source  of  much  fun  to  the  girls.     They 
insisted  that  Mrs.  Dewhurst  should  Bleep  in  it,  declaring  it 
20 


458  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

was  the  highest,  and  therefore  most  honorable  place,  that 
they  were  afraid  of  it,  that  they  were  natural  bed-fellows, 
and  could  not  and  would  not  be  separated.  Mrs.  Dew- 
hurst  refused  positively  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the 
cot.  To  her  it  seemed  impossible  that  she  should  swing 
about  in  that  loose  kind  of  a  bed :  she  showed  fear  and  a 
just  indignation  at  the  proposal.  The  roguish  girls  teased 
her  a  good  deal,  but  at  last  Isabel  climbed  up,  and  was 
repaid  for  solitude  by  the  pleasantest  bed  in  the  world. 
Mr.  Dewhurst  declared  that  his  cot  in  the  ward-room  was 
better  than  a  feather-bed  at  home. 

The  wind  which  had  started  them  on  their  passage  con- 
tinued favorable,  though  it  became  very  light,  until  the 
ship  rounded  Cape  San  Antonio.  Then,  of  course,  the 
breeze  remaining  in  the  same  quarter,  was  dead  ahead. 
Little  cared  the  contented  souls  on  board — at  least,  those 
who  lived  aft — for  their  lazy  progress  was  the  poetry  of 
sailing.  Mrs.  Dewhurst  felt  a  mother's  satisfaction,  now 
unmixed  with  regret,  in  thinking  *  of  her  daughter's  glad- 
ness, of  her  happy  choice,  and  of  the  fact  that  Mary  could 
be  near  or  with  her  after  marriao^e.  Mr.  Dewhurst  watched 
the  two  couples  with  many  a  quiet  chuckle,  and  many  a 
bit  of  old-style  good-natured  raillery.  He  found  a  con- 
genial companion  in  Captain  Merritt.  They  talked  poli- 
tics, differing  enough  on  important  questions  to  make  argu- 
ment spicy,  but  never  losing  temper  or  omitting  courtesy. 
They  had  each  learned  a  good  deal  of  worldly  wisdom, 
and  could  even  apply  it  to  their  own  actions. 

As  the  others  were  in  no  haste  to  reach  port,  so 
the  two,  captain  girls,  with  their  respective  lieutenants, 
were  entirely  willing  to  remain  at  sea  for  an  indefinite 
time.  They  lived  in  the  present  and  had  no  wish  for  any 
better  life. 

The  sea  air,  and  walking  exercise  on  deck,  and  happi- 
ness, together,  gave  the  girls  fine  appetites,  brought  the  pink 
back  to  Mary's  cheek,  the  richer  scarlet  to  Isabel's.  They 
got  prettier  every  day  ;  and,  with  bloom  and  softness  of 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  459 

outline,  returned  to  them  their  agaceries  and  coquetries, 
charming  little  nothings  which  count  for  so  much  with 
men.  In  them  Mary  was  a  natural  adept,  Isabel's  disposi- 
tion preventing  her  from  going  very  far  in  that  direction. 
She  had  a  rare  vein  of  humor  which  now  cropped  out  in 
stingless  witty  remarks.  It  was  a  perfect  delight  to  Gar- 
net to  hear,  and  supplement  her  saying  with  some  dry  sly 
thing  of  his  own.  They  amused  each  other  without  effort, 
could  not  even  feel  bored,  though  they  passed  much  time 
together,  and  of  course  interested  each  other  extremely. 
He  thought  he  had  read  his  book,  and  he  was  now  admir- 
ing particular  parts  ;  she  was  still  conning  hers,  and  was 
approving  very  heartily  as  she  perused.  In  the  matter  of 
binding,  to  which  he  was  by  no  means  indifferent,  he 
thought  he  had  much  the  best  bargain. 

The  discipline  of  the  good  old  sloop  went  from  bad  to 
worse.  It  soon  became  a  common  thing  to  see  the  ladies 
with  a  circle  of  officers  about  them,  all  sitting  on  the  sacred 
quarter-deck  in  chairs.  Captain  Merritt  had  somebody  in 
to  dine  with  his  guests  almost  every  day,  and  once  or  twice 
Hartley  and  Garnet  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  taking  break- 
fast with  him.  When  either  of  those  officers  had  the  first 
watch  to  keep,  it  was  a  certain  thing  that  till  ten  o'clock  a 
young  lady  would  be  sitting  on  a  signal  chest  aft,  well 
wrapped  up,  while  the  other  young  lady  assisted  by  the 
other  friend  acted  as  a  sort  of  sea-chaperon — at  a  suitable 
distance. 

The  girls  learned  to  eat  their  dinner  wherever  they 
found  themselves  at  dinner  time.  They  were  invited  to 
dine  in  the  ward-room  along  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewhurst, 
when  two  days  out  of  the  river  ;  and  they  had  such  a 
pleasant  time  that  afterward  they  easily  yielded  to  the 
entreaties  of  the  admiring  officers,  and  made  the  dark 
apartment  seem  light  with  their  gracious  beauty. 

But  their  dinner  in  the  steerage  on  the  seventh  day  out 
was  the  great  public  event  of  the  passage. 

The  middies  hadj  one  at  a  time,  timidly  and  otherwise, 


460  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

managed  to  be  introduced  to  the  young  ladies,  who  had 
treated  them  with  such  nice  tact  as  to  make  the  youngsters 
all  willing  to  swear  by  them.  The  bashful  were  talked  to, 
drawn  out,  and  encouraged  ;  the  bold  were  made  to  feel 
that  a  reasonable  distance  must  be  kept :  so  the  girls 
gained  respect  and  regard. 

The  midshipmen,  as  usual  finding  out  anything  worth 
knowing  in  the  ship,  discovered  the  feelings  of  two  of  the  * 
watch  officers,  as  well  as  its  reciprocation  ;  after  which  they 
looked  upon  Mary  and  Isabel  as  belonging  entirely  to  the 
service,  and  imparted  to  them  a  large  quantity  of  nautical 
knowledge  which  no  lady  should  be  without. 

It  was  Young  who  proposed  that  they  should  have  their 
fair  shipmates  in  to  dinner.  All  the  others  laughed  at  it, 
at  first,  and  Larkin  outrightly  pooh-poohed  it.  However, 
Young  stuck  to  it,  argued  that  it  would  be  impolite  to 
let  them  leave  the  ship  without  attention,  and  dwelt  upon 
the  standing  and  reputation  it  would  give  their  mess  ;  till, 
one  by  one,  all  came  around  to  his  side  except  Larkin.  He 
told  them  that  while  he  agreed  with  Mr.  Young  about  the 
pleasure  of  the  thing,  and  while  he  very  much  wished  the 
ladies'  company,  he  found  a  severe  practical  difficulty.  He 
was  the  caterer,  and  he  knew  they  had  precious  little  food 
fit  to  set  before  ladies.  Young  replied  to  that  by  saying, 
that  Miss  Mary  and  Miss  Isabel  were  ladies,  and  they 
would  be  satisfied  if  assured  the  dinner  was  better  than  the 
hosts  had  every  day,  and  the  best  to  be  had  at  the  time. 
He,  furthermore,  gallantly  volunteered  to  act  as  caterer 
himself.  Larkin  thereupon  ceased  his  opposition,  remark- 
ing that  he  would  like  to  see  them,  but  knew  they  wouldn't 
come,  and  he  would  not  be  responsible  for  the  dinner. 

Mr.  Young  watched  sharp  for  a  chance  to  hail  the 
ladies  when  there  was  no  authority  in  sight  to  advise  them. 
They  seemed  to  be  always  attended  when  on  deck,  however, 
and  the  best  he  could  do  was  to  speak  to  them  when  he 
saw  them  sitting  aft  with  only  Hartley  and  Garnet  by. 
He  was  tired  of  watching  and  dodging  about,  thinking, 


A    STORY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  461 

with  youth's  sensitiveness  to  ridicule,  that  he  had  already 
been  noticed  ;  and  he  determined  to  depend  upon  the  well- 
known  kindness  of  the  two  officers.  So  he  advanced  to 
the  group  blushing,  cap  in  hand.  His  modesty,  or  bashful- 
ness,  gained  the  girls'  sympathy,  and  his  original  invitation, 
"  The  midshipmen  wanted  to  know  if  the  ladies  wouldn't 
eat  dinner  with  'em  in  the  steerage  to-morrow,"  struck 
Hartley  and  Garnet  so  comically  as  to  kill  their  opposi- 
tion. The  girls  glanced,  each  at  the  proper  man,  and  read 
encouragement  in  the  amused  eyes  of  their  lieutenants  ;  so 
they  accepted  at  once,  and  Mr.  Young  retired  triumphant. 
They  all  had  a  good  laugh  at  it,  but  could  not  think  of 
receding  after  having  committed  themselves. 

The  next  day,  a  few  minutes  before  the  appointed  hour, 
the  girls  were  on  the  half-deck  very  prettily  dressed,  for  they 
had  "  saved  their  chests  "  through  all  their  captivity.  Mr. 
Larkin  and  Mr.  Young  appeared  and  escorted  them  below. 

It  was  a  trying  time  for  all  the  middies,  because  the 
fame  of  their  courageous  hospitality  had  gone  abroad,  and 
the  ship  was  full  of  fun  at  their  expense.  Larkin  had 
thrown  himself  into  the  breach  when  he  found  that  the 
guests  were  really  coming,  and  "  done  his  level  best "  to 
make  the  dinner  a  success.  He  got  provisions  from  every 
mess  in  the  ship,  made  flying  visits  to  the  galley,  held  con- 
sultations with  the  captain's  cook  and  his  own  about  new 
dishes,  obtained  glass  and  crockery  from  the  ward-room 
mesp,  borrowed  Cato  Johnson  to  help  wait  on  the  table, 
and,  in  fact,  performed  wonders,  all  things  considered. 
Still,  he  and  all  the  rest  were  very  nervous  when  the  hour 
came,  and  almost  wished  they  had  not  tried  to  be  so 
sociable. 

The  steerage  was  very  narrow.  When  the  table  was  set, 
with  the  chairs  in  place,  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  reach 
one  end  from  the  other,  to  go  out  of  the  door  at  that  end 
and  clear  around  to  the  door  at  the  other  end.  As  they 
had  arranged  to  put  the  young  ladies  at  opposite  diagonal 
corners,  Mary  had  to  go  in  at  one  door,  and  Isabel  at  the 


4C2  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Other.-  This  separation  looked  frightfully  awkward  at 
first,  and  made  the  youngsters  still  more  nervous.  There 
"was  one  dreadful  moment  of  suspense  after  all  were  seated, 
in  which  no  middy  dared  look  at  another  or  at  the  guests. 
Then  Mary's  bright  voice  asked  some  pleasant  question 
about  when  they  would  get  to  the  Havana,  and  Isabel 
made  some  quiet  easy  remark,  and  the  stiffness  vanished 
magically.  After  that  it  was  very  pleasant  for  the 
youngsters.  .  The  visitors  chatted  cheerfully  about  things 
on  which  their  hosts  were  informed,  told  them  something 
about  the  glen  and  the  pirates,  asked  for  knowledge  on 
matters  of  seamanship,  displayed  a  charming  ignorance  in 
wondering  at  the  ability  of  the  midshipmen  to  tell  the 
ship's  position  with  no  land  in  sight,  and  were  delighted 
with  the  neat  steerage,  and  the  nice  dinner.  The  lads  were 
brimful  of  enthusiasm  and  pride. 

And  when  the  dinner  was  all  done,  Larkin  surprised  his 
messmates,  and  surpassed  himself,  by  bringing  out  two 
bottles  of  champagne — real  Sillery  mousseux.  Though 
they  had  always  thought  him  wonderfully  smart,  never 
had  they  so  much  respected  him  as  when  he  produced 
the  wine.  They  admired  the  strength  of  mind  which  had 
enabled  him  to  keep  it  so  long,  and  to  keep  it  a  secret,  and 
for  him  to  bring  it  out  at  such  a  happy  instant  proved 
him  to  be  a  remarkable  person.  The  talk  flagged  a  good 
deal  while  the  glasses  were  placed  and  the  corks  popped. 
The  youngsters  were  too  deeply  concerned,  to  be  able  to 
keep  their  eyes  off  the  bottles,  as  Mary  and  Isabel  saw  to 
their  great  amusement. 

Larkin  explained,  while  watching  the  servant,  "  We 
don't  have  champagne  every  day,  ladies — only  on  great 
occasions.  It  was  a  lucky  notion  I  took  one  day,  when  we 
were  fitting  out  in  New  York.  It  occurred  to  me  that 
nobody  could  tell  w^hat  would  turn  up.  (Steward,  don't 
you  know  better'n  to  use  a  corkscrew  ?)  So  I  bought  those 
two  bottles,  and  fetched  'em  off  without  letting  the  fel- 
lows know  anything  about  it,  and   stowed  'em  away  in 


A   STOEY    OF    THE.  AMERICAN    NxWY.  463 

the  back  of  my  locker.  If  I  hadn't  kept  it  a  secret,  they 
would  have  worried  it  away  from  me  long  ago — for  Satur- 
day night,  you  know — and  you  would  have  had  no  more 
than  the  general  benefit  of  it.  (There,  steward,  don't  try 
to  fill  it  at  once — wait  a  bit ! )  "  There  was  a  sweet  silence 
for  a  minute. 

"Gentlemen,  I  will  give  you  a  sentiment — please  stand 
up.  The  health  and  happiness  of  our  fair  guests  all  their 
lives  long.  May  they  never  forget  the  Service,  and  the 
friends  in  it  who  love  them." 

Isabel  answered  the  gallant  toast  from  her  seat, 
blushing  and  smiling,  for  it  was  funny  to  her,  at  the  same 
time  that  it  was  manlier  than  she  expected,  and  then  it 
touched  her  by  its  sincerity  and  enthusiasm.  "You  are 
very  kind,  and  you  have  given  us  a  very  pleasant  enter- 
tainment, gentlemen.  You  need  not  fear  that  we  shall 
ever  forget  you,  for  we  saw  how  bravely  you  fought  for 
ufi,  and  we  can't  forget  that."  Then  she  and  Mary  arose 
and  courtesied  out  in  the  grand  style,  and  were  escorted 
back  to  the  cabin  door.  As  they  went  in  they  heard  three 
cheers  from  the  ecstatic  youngsters,  who  had  to  let  out 
their  trejnendous  feelings  or  burst.  McKizick  stepped  in, 
laughing,  and  begged  them  to  "  moderate  their  transports." 

It  took  them  the  whole  of  ten  pleasant  days  to  reach  the 
Havana.  They  found  the  fever  already  begun,  and  no 
American  men-of-war  in  port.  The  captain  learned  that 
the  commodore  was  across  at  Key  West  with  the  flag-ship 
and  that  another  vessel  of  the  squadron  had  been  ordered 
to  touch  at  that  place  preparatory  to  goipg  to  New  York. 
He  decided  to  run  over  at  once,  and  urged  upon  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst  to  accompany  them  and  ask  a  passage  home  in  the 
returning  ship.  This  invitation  Mr.  Dewhurst,  in  view  of 
the  fever  on  shore  and  his  determination  to  run  no  more 
risks  from  pirates,  was  very  glad  to  accept.  x\ccordingly, 
after  a  stop  only  long  enough  to  lay  in  fresh  provisions,  the 
Flying  Fish  carried  her  passengers  to  sea  again. 

The  same  gentle  delightful  airs  as  before  retarded  their 


464:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

progress,  so  that  they  were  over  three  days  in  sailing  the 
ninety  miles. 

Those  days  were  not  all  delightful.  The  premonition 
of  parting  crept  over  the  young  men  like  the  warning 
chill  before  a  gusty  squall,  from  the  hour  in  which  they 
sailed.  It  reminded  them  of  the  future,  and  set  them  to 
thinking  ahead  with  care.  The  girls,  also,  lost  something 
of  their  gayety,  and  became  thoughtful ;  but,  as  if  governed 
by  a  common  wish  to  put  off  the  evil  day,  each  of  the  four 
abstained  from  laying  down  the  burden  of  the  heart  before 
the  others. 

Meantime  Isabel  had  fast  been  learning  her  betrothed; 
and,  what  was  happy  for  both,  as  she  looked  into  his  honest 
manly  soul,  she  could  not  help  loving.  She  had  just  then 
no  obje|Jfc,in  life  but  to  love  him  ;  and  since  she  began  by 
doing  so  unawaa^,  and  since  she  earnestly  wished  to  make 
him  happy,  and  felt  constantly  in  his»presence  the  virile 
strength  of  his  passion,  all  the  more  potential  with  her  that 
it  was  restrained,  it  was  no  wonder  that  siie  daily,  hourly, 
grew  toward  him,  and  around  him.  The  old  figure  must 
come  in  again.  She  was  a  strong  vine  trained  to  stand 
alone,  as  the  vine  sometimes  is,  and  able  to  hold  up  her 
head  in  the  world  without  aid  ;  but  when  she  found  her- 
self transplanted  near  to  this  sturdy  tree,  which  offered  at 
every  instant  a  natural  support,  and  one  which  could  not 
cause  her  to  respect  herself  the  les^,'the  true  nature  of  the 
vine  asserted  itself.  She  leaned  instinctively  that  way, 
sent  o«t  clinging  tendrils  of  affection,  and  soon  had  so  com- 
pletely trusted  herself  to  the  tree  that  she  could  never  exist 
again  without  it,  except  in  a  lowly  trailing  among  the 
ashes  of  mourning.  Her  power  of  lonely  life  within  her- 
self was  gone,  she  loved,  and  she  found  the  new  communion 
and  dependence  sweeter  than  honey  dropping  from'  the 
comb.  Garnet  saw  and  felt  it,  and  his  manhood  stirred 
within  him  in  proud  gratitude  to  think  that  he  would  be 
through  life  the  protector  and  support  of  his  dear  one.  It 
was  very  sweet  to  this  strong  reticent  man,  to  find  himself 


A    STOEY    OF   THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  465 

appealed  to,  looked  up  to,  clung  to,  and  beloved.  He 
noted  the  steady  change  coming  over  Isabel,  and  nothing 
in  it  pleased  him  more  than  a  certain  shyness  and  timidity 
that  he  began  to  see. 

The  second  evening  after  they  had  sailed  he  had  a  chair 
taken  up  for  Isabel,  after  supper,  as  had  become  their  cus- 
tom. They  Avould  choose  a  place,  apart  from  the  others 
of  course,  and  sit  the  evening  out  in  conversation.  Hartley 
and  Mary  could  always  be  found  not  far  away,  engaged 
likewise.  On  this  particular  evening  the  moon,  now  past 
her  full,  had  only  a  few  minutes  before  lifted  her  oval 
disk  of  gold  above  the  water  when  Isabel  came  up.  The 
other  couple  followed  her,  and  walked  to  their  accustomed 
sitting  place. 

Garnet  placed  Isabel's  ch^r  where  she  could  see  the 
water,  and  sat  down  onjthe  rail.  For  awlyle  they  watched 
the  line  of  bright  gl»^«fngs  upon  the  waves,  so  aptly  called 
"  a  floating  bridg/«l:>f  light,"  by  one  of  our  own  poets  ; 
and,  then,  comniencing  with  short  remarks,  they  insensibly 
quitted  the  beauties  of  the  night  to  drift  away  into  talk 
and  thoughts  of  one  another. 

All  they  said  in  those  two  hours  might  be  of  interest 
to  us — it  certainly  was  to  them — but  what  they  said  of 
chief  importance  was  toward  the  close.  They  had  been 
talking  upon  the  art  of  living  happily  with  others,  upon 
which  they  perfectly  agreed.  Garnet  spoke.  "  I  am  glad 
we  think  alike,  for  both  of  us  are  apt  to  carry  our  belief 
into  practice.  A  difference  in  such  an  important  matter 
might  make  trouble."  She'had  no  answer,  and  he  went  on 
slowly.  "  I  believe  we  shall  be  happy  together,  Isabel.  I 
think  I  can  satisfy  you,  my  darling."  She  trembled  with 
the  strangeness  of  his  endearing  words,  for  he  had  not  used 
such  before.  "  I  think  of  my  life,  and  I  do  not  act  rashly 
to  wound  others  or  to  make  them  respect  me  less.  You 
will  not  expect  too  much  of  me.  Shall  I  be  able  to  satisfy 
you  ?  "  Still  she  had  no  answer  for  him.  "  Yes,  I  know 
we  shall  be  happy.  I  know  on  what  I  have  to  depend, 
20* 


4:66  LOVE   AFLOAT. 

your  truth,  and  charity,  and  goodness,  dear  treasure  that 
you  are  !  " 

She  answered  with  a  lightsomeness  w^hich  would  not 
have  deceived  a  child,  in  the  day  time  when  it  could  see 
her  face.  "Will,  you  praise  me  too  much.  You  won't 
believe  all  that  after — after  you  know  me  better.  Maybe 
you  don't  believe  it  now !  Flattery,  Mr.  Garnet,  must  be 
offered  in  such  a  delicate  insinuating  manner,  that  the 
receiver  never  suspects,  or  else  it  must  be  presented  so 
openly  as  to  carry  the  impression  that  it  is  sincere. 
Now—" 

"  Isabel,"  interrupted  he,  "  you  know  I  meant  all  I  said. 
I  have  no  motive  to  flatter  you.  You  are  trying  to  turn 
me  off  one  side  for  some  reason  of  your  own.  Well — I'm 
too  stubborn  to  go." 

She  had  no  answer  ready  for  this  direct  speech,  and  he 
resumed  after  waiting  a  minute.  "  My  darling,  we  are 
nearly  at  the  end  of  the  passage,  and  I  can't  bear  to  think  of 
parting  from  you.  It  will  be  two  years  and  a  half^dr  three 
years  till  we  meet  again.  One  of  us  may  die  in  tijlat  time, 
and  leave  the  other  alone.  It  would  be  sad  to  think  I  had 
found  my  mate,  and  lost  her  before — before  she  was  really 
mine.  Probably  we  both  shall  live,  but  why  should  ^e 
throw  away  the  right  to  call  one  another  husband  and  wife 
for  these  three  years.  I  would  rather  write  to  iny  dear 
wife,  than  to  Miss  Terrell.     Had  you  thought  about  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  simply,  now  serious  enough. 

"  Then  you  see  it  as  I  do,  I  know,  and  it  all  depends  on 
one  thing — can  you  say  you  love  me.  If  you  can  you  will 
consent  to  marry  me  in  Key  West." 

She  w^as  silent  till  he  began  to  think  she  was  not  going 
to  speak  at  all ;  but  at  last  she  said,  "Give  me  your  arm, 
and  walk  with  me  awhile."  They  arose  and  promenaded 
the  moonlit  deck,  walking  from  the  main-mast,  and  at 
each  turning  aft,  entering  the  shade  of  the  spanker. 

By  and  by  she  put  her  right  hand  into  his.  No  word 
was  spoken,  but  Garnet  had  the  answer  for  which  he  had 


A   6T0EY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  467 

longed.  He  gave  her  hand  a  grasp  which  spoke  his  tri- 
umph and  his  joy.  Even  that  grasp  was  symbolical.  Even 
the  happiness  of  this  kind  man  was  as  usual  at  the  expense 
of  the  woman's  pain.  He  almost  crushed  her  hand  in  his 
strong  grip,  but  she,  woman-like,  did  not  mind  it  and  did 
not  complain. 

When  next  they  passed  into  the  shadow  of  the  sail  he 
glanced  about  to  see  if  they  were  unobserved,  drew  her 
toward  him,  and  they  exchanged  a  swift  silent  pressure  of 
the  lips.  It  was  her  first  wife-kiss,  and  it  seemed  to  awa- 
ken her.  From  that  instant  her  duty,  so  dimly  seen  five 
minutes  before,  became  plain  enough.  "  How  could  I 
think  of  letting  him  go  ?  It  is  impossible,"  she  thought. 
After  that,  well  did  she  know  she  loved  him.  She  looked 
upon  her  affection  as  upon  a  new  found  sea,  with  wonder- 
ing guesses  at  its  wideness  and  its  depth.  And  after  that, 
she  showed  her  feeling  frequently  and  unavoidably.  When 
he  was  in  sight  she  followed  him  about  with  pure  wifely 
eye^l^ming  affection.  She  was  offended  at  Mary's  mak- 
ing S)it2^^ harmless  little  joke  about  Garnet's  beauty,  and 
maintained  that  he  was  a  handsome  man.  She  sought  the 
pettiest  pretext  to  get  his  company,  and  loved  to  do  him 
trifling  little  services.  She  suddenly  became  more  attrac- 
tive, tenderer  than  ever  before  in  speech  and  bearing,  her 
loftly  distant  manner  leaving  her  in  a  great  degree.  Her 
pride  seemed  melted  away  ;  so  that  when  she  found  herself 
doing  with  eagerness  the  same  soft  little  things  for  which 
she  had  once  laughed  at  Mary,  she  laughed  contentedly  at 
herself,  and  told  herself  she  didn't  care,  and  went  on  doing 
them. 

The  day  before  they  reached  Key  West  it  began  to  rain 
early  in  the  morning  and  kept  on  raining  all  day — a  dull, 
soul-deadening  drizzle,  without  intermission.  Garnet  was 
to  come  on  deck  at  six  for  the  second  dog-watch.  The 
girls  were  dining  in  the  ward-room  that  day,  with  Mr. 
Dewhurst,  the  dinner  beginning  as  usual  at  five.  They 
generally  sat  an  hour  and  a  half  at  the  table,  but  it  was 


4G8  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

customary  for  the  officer  of  the  next  watch  to  finish  his 
meal  in  time  to  relieve  the  deck  punctually  at  four  bells. 
Garnet  left  the  table  at  five  minutes  before  the  hour,  and 
went  into  his  room  to  draw  on  his  water-proof  suit,  where- 
upon Isabel  excused  herself,  saying,  **  she  wanted  to  see 
aunt  (I)  "  As  they  were  not  ceremonious  in  the  mess,  but 
all  felt  free  to  go  and  come  as  they  liked,  no  one  particu- 
larly noticed  her  going,  except  Mary. 

When  Garnet  reached  the  half-deck  on  his  way  up, 
Isabel  was  there  waiting  for  him,  full  of  concern.  He  was 
not  a  handsome  man  at  his  best,  and  clad  in  a  yellow  oil- 
skin suit  and  sou'-wester  he  looked  undeniably  ugly ;  but 
he  appeared  to  Isabel  as  an  Apollo.  She  immediately 
beckoned  him  away  from  the  hatch.  "  O  Will,  I  don't  like 
you  to  go  out  in  all  this  rain  ! " 

"  It  wouldn't  hurt  a  baby,  dear  girl." 

"  Yes,  it  would.     You'll  take  cold." 

"  It's  a  warm  rain,  and  I  shall  be  perfectly  dry  in  this 
oil-skin." 

*'  Are  you  sure  ?  "  She  took  his  oil-soaked  cotton  sleeve 
between  her  thumb  and  finger  to  feel  it.  "  It  isn't  thick 
enough,  is  it  ?  " 

"  I  have  worn  it  several  years,  and  have  never  been  wet 
through  it." 

"  Well — then  go  along  with  you.  Oh  !  will  you  be  in 
the  cabin  this  evening  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"Then  go  to  your  duty,  sir,  and  don't  stop  wasting 
your  time  talking  to  me.  Go  let  poor  Mr.  Briggs  get  his 
dinner." 

The  happy  look  in  her  eyes  corresponded  with  her  ten- 
der savagery  no  better  than  her  fond  tone  matched  it. 

"  Thank  you,  my  dear,"  whispered  Garnet,  who  under- 
stood her  very  well. 

While  they  had  agreed  so  well  on  the  preceding  night, 
Hartley  ^nd  Mary  had  been  talking,  too ;  and  so  much  of  it 
was  to  the  point  th^t  they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  same 


A   STORY   OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  469 

conclusions  about  a  wedding  in  Key  West  that  Garnet  and 
.Isabel  had  reached. 

Next  day  the  four  found  themselves  of  one  mind.  As 
usual,  the  men  were  sent  forward  to  the  assault,  the  two 
women  remaining  timidly  behind,  half-ashamed  half-glad 
that  the  momentous  point  would  soon  be  settled,  dreading 
to  get  their  wish  and  fearing  they  might  not.  Mr.  Dew- 
hurst  received  the  request  of  the  lieutenants  kindly,  thought 
it  a  highly  natural  and  proper  one  to  make,  consulted  his 
wife,  spoke  to  the  girls  as  a  matter  of  form,  and  said,  "  Bless 
you,  my  children,"  very  cheerfully. 

And  so  they  sailed  onward 

"  Unto  the  bridal  day,  which  was  not  long." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


THE  reader  once  before,  lending  himself  to  my  guidance, 
paid  a  flying  visit  of  imagination  to  the  south  coast, 
that  he  might  become  familiar  with  the  locality  in  which 
our  friends  met  their  adventures.  Will  he,  after  a  lapse  of 
twenty  years,  return  ?  To  revisit  those  places  may  prove 
a  pleasure.  If  it  invite  retrospect  and  force  a  saddening 
comparison  to  see  the  lovely  spots  again,  it  will  at  least 
satisfy  curiosity. 

We  enter  the  mouth  of  the  river  first,  passing  on  either 
hand  the  black  and  the  red  buoys  placed  to  mark  the  chan- 
nel. On  the  end  of  the  western  point  is  a  lighthouse,  a 
slender  yellow  tower  of  stone,  with  the  keeper's  hut  at  its 
base. 

We  gaze  around  as  before,  and  far  away  to  the  right, 
blinking  in  the  horizon  under  the  hot  sun,  we  see  the  dunes 
of  the  Fisherman's  Key.  On  this  side  of  the  islet  is  the 
same  mingling  of  shoals,  reefs,  and  smaller  keys  as  before. 
The  rocks  lift  their  rough  tops  as  of  old  amid  their  encir- 


470  LOVE   AFLOAT, 

cling  bands  of  foam  wliich  rise  and  fall  on  the  swaying  seas. 
The  shoals  mark  their  places  by  the  patches  of  paler  water 
above  them  ;  the  keys  are  mere  little  knolls  of  sand.  The 
game  sharp  clean  curve  forms  the  shore  of  the  mainland 
and  cuts  the  water  with  its  keen  edge  ;  and  tlie  same  rich 
foliage,  here  feathery,  there  massive,  clothes  the  slopes  of 
the  hills,  hides  their  asperities  of  line,  and  fills  their  inter- 
lying  valleys.  We  look  up  the  narrow  stream  which  runs 
low  among  its  hills  and  trees,  and  we  see  the  supplement 
of  the  light-house  in  a  picturesque  little  village  on  the 
western  bank  just  above  the  peninsula.  There  is  a  wharf 
projecting  into  the  river,  and  a  merchant  bark  lies  there, 
lazy  and  still.  Decidedly,  we  will  not  pause  to  look  at  the 
hamlet :  its  sight  jars  upon  our  memory. 

We  pass  on  by  and  stop  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
to  land  at  the  little  creek.  Here,  too,  the  hand  of  man  has 
been  thrust  in  to  disturb  our  associations.  A  rough 
wooden  landing  just  below  shows  the  marks  of  use,  and  has 
two  or  three  fishing-boats  moored  by  its  sides.  We  cross 
it  and  go  on  up  the  path,  now  broad  and  clearly  marked, 
by  which  Hartley  fled  and  the  seamen  advanced  to  the 
attack.     The  trees  look  older,  but  otherwise  the  same. 

After  awhile,  when  we  think  we  should  have  reached 
the  glen,  the  way  seems  unfamiliar ;  we  look  about  us,  go 
backward  and  forward,  and  are  at  a  loss.  Searching  shows 
that  the  path  of  to-day  swerves  to  the  left  of  the  old 
direction  and  passes  by  the  glen  at  some  distance.  We 
find  the  natural  amphitheatre  at  last,  surrounded  by  a  dense 
fringe  of  undergrowth  extending  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
bluff.  In  some  places  plants  lean  over  the  brink,  or  vines 
hang  downward  into  the  air. 

We  seek  the  graves  of  Hackett  and  Catarina  ;  but 
either  our  recollection  is  at  fault,  or  all  trace  of  them  has 
been  effaced  by  the  eroding  forces  of  the  sun  and  the  rain. 

We  find  the  cleft  defended  by  a  thicket  of  bushes, 
woven  together  by  interlacings  of  running  briars.  We  go 
down  the  rough  steps,  slippery  with  moss  and  green  ooze. 


A   STORY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  471 

between  the  gray  walls  which  no  passing  shoulder  has 
brushed  for  many  a  day.  Entering  the  glen,  at  first  noth- 
ing can  be  seen,  for  the  undisturbed  vegetation  is  higher 
than  the  eye,  and  luxuriant  with  the  richness  of  the  soil: 
but  when  we  reach  the  centre  there  is  still  a  little  clear 
space  preserved  by  the  shade  of  the  trees.  Here  we  can 
see  the  old  gray  enclosing  walls,  and  mark  the  sites  of  the 
pirates'  houses,  whose  ashes,  enriching  the  earth,  have 
given  at  each  place  a  stronger  growth  to  the  bushes  and 
a  ranker  green  to  their  leaves.  Through  the  foliage,  on 
the  northern  side,  occasional  glimmers  of  light  reach  our 
eyes,  vagrant  beams,  which,  having  found  the  deeply  con- 
cealed brook,  have  been  turned  back  by  it  to  tell  us  it  is 
still  there. 

The  place  is  wild,  and  strange,  and  lonely,  thus  relapsed 
into  the  desolation  of  victorious  nature.  No  foot  of  man 
treads  here,  no  eyes  admire  the  loveliness,  no  voice,  in 
merry  song,  or  careless  call,  or  angry  curse,  resounds  within 
it  as  of  yore,  echoing  and  reechoing  in  a  thousand  sharp 
arrests  against  the  rocky  walls  ;  by  night  the  reddening 
camp-fire  burns  no  longer  to  illumine  the  spot  with  its 
cheerful  light ;  the  smoke  ascends  to  mark  the  place  by 
day  no  more.  Gone  with  man's  occupation  is  its  life. 
The  stillness,  the  tangled  richness  of  dumb  vegetation,  and 
above  all",  the  contrast,  fill  us  with  dreariness.  Our  hearts 
sink,  and  gloomy  images  push  themselves  upon  us,  crowd- 
ing into  our  minds  with  the  recognition  of  sad  change,  as 
through  an  unguarded  door.     Let  us  go  away ! 

Down  the  stream,  then — we  know  the  path.  This  is 
easy  enough.  The  rains  of  twenty  years  have  cut  a  deeper 
channel  for  the  brook,  a  kind  of  sepulchral  tunnel,  with  its 
thick  arch  of  meeting,  mingling  foliage  above,  its  watery 
floor  below,  and  its  light  dimmer  than  it  was  when  we  last 
passed  this  way.  We  follow  it  on  mechanically,  old  recol- 
lections thronging  back  upon  us  ;  we  reach  the  end  before 
we  notice  our  progress,  and  we  emerge  into  the  sunlight  at 
the  mouth  of  the  stream.     And  what  a  relief  it  is !     The 


472  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

same  old  lovely  scene  !  No,  not  quite  the  same,  for  the 
hut  is  gone,  and  near  where  it  stood  are  several  little  dwell- 
ings of  fishermen.  Their  boats  are  lying  on  the  beach, 
and  their  nets  are  spread  out  on  the  sand  to  dry.  The 
men  themselves  lounge  listlessly  in  hammocks  under  their 
sheds,  content  to  smoke  in  quiet  and  to  watch  the  beautiful 
oval  basin.  That  is  unchanged.  Even  as  we  saw  it  so 
long  ago,  still  does  its  glassy  mirror  reflect  the  green  above, 
drooping  from  the  cliffs,  or  rounding  the  hill  curves.  The 
same  band  of  clean  sand  beach  encloses  the  ellipse,  the 
slender  bamboos  yet  wave  their  feathers  in  the  air. 

We  pass  out  through  the  narrow  entrance  under  the  trees, 
whose  hea'ds  have  now  met,  whose  arms  are  linked,  through 
whose  swaying  tops  we  see  the  sky,  from  whose  lofty  limbs 
pendulous  parasites  hang  over  the  water  in  rich  festoons. 
We  reach  the  outing,  and  once  more  our  horizon  is  free. 

Away  to  the  east,  friend,  threading  our  devious  way 
among  the  tortuous  channels  of  the  reefs.  Away  to  El 
Cayo  del  Pescador ! 

A  beautiful  schooner  lies  at  anchor  off  the  point  as  if 
waiting  for  us.  She  looks  familiar — surely  we  know  her. 
The  graceful  lines,  the  sheer  lifting  enough  forward  to 
raise  her  billet-head  with  a  saucy  air,  the  taper  spars,  the 
slender  yards,  the  immensely  projecting  head-booms,  the 
very  colors  of  her  paint — all  remind  us  of  something. 
Can  it  be  La  Hembrilla,  whose  fair  form  we  saw  hurled  by 
a  relentless  surf  upon  the  jagged  teeth  of  the  reef?  She 
who  crumbled  away  so  soon,  beaten  into  fragments  by  the 
sea,  and  scattered  by  the  gale?  She  or  her  ghost,  you 
say — an  apparition  like  the  Flying  Dutchman,  but  return- 
ing in  bright  sunshine  to  the  haunts  of  her  short  life.  No, 
for  hark  !     You  can  hear  the  voices  of  children. 

She  is  the  yacht  "Flying  Fish,"  built  by  the  same 
builder,  upon  the  same  model,  as  was  the  lawless  sea-beauty 
we  knew  so  long  ago.  Her  owner  and  sailing-master  is 
our  old  time  friend,  Henry  Hartley,  out  of  the  navy  for 
many  years,  and  now,  attracted  by  an   awakening  of  his 


JL   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  4Y3 

love  for  the  se,a,  and  by  fond  memories,  revisiting  the 
scenes  of  his  vivid  wooing.  His  family  is  with  him,  some 
of  whom,  in  fact  most  of  whom,  are  strangers  to  us. 
Everybody  is  on  deck,  for  it  is  now  only  six  o'clock,  and 
the  balmy  breeze  has  dispelled  the  mid-day  heats.  The 
crew  of  eight  or  ten  men  are  getting  the  boats  ready  to 
hoist  out  from  their  places  in  the  waist.  They  are  a  sturdy 
seaman-like  set,  dressed  in  a  uniform  resembling  that  of 
the  navy,  and  directed  by  a  young  officer  in  blue  coat  and 
brass  buttons.  A  very  ancient  person  sits  on  the  hatch 
amidships,  smoking  a  pipe,  mending  an  ensign,  and  watch- 
ing, with  a  contemptuous  expression,  the  work  going  on 
before  him.  His  round,  hairless  head  shines  like  a  billiard 
ball.  Who  can  he  be  ?  We  have  seen  him  before,  surely  ? 
He  speaks  in  an  undertone  to  one  of  the  sailors  near  by, 
but  we  can  hear.  *'  Pilot  boat  fashion  !  Yacht  sailorin'  ! 
Humph  !  I  bet  my  head  to  a  Chiny  orange,  that  Thomas 
ap  Catesby  R.  Jones  " — enough ;  you  recognize  William 
Johnson,  the  quondam  quartermaster.  Superannuated  in 
the  service,  and  refusing  to  quit  the  sea  to  "  rot  in  no  Sail- 
ors* Snug  Harbor,  and  have  his  backy  stopped,"  he  had 
fallen  year  by  year  through  various  degradations  of  the 
merchant  service,  till  even  the  coasters  would  not  ship  him. 
By  a  mere  accident.  Hartley  at  last  picked  him  up  in  the 
greatest  destitution.  He  has  now  an  honorary  billet  in 
the  yacht  while  she  is  at  sea,  in  which  position  his  chief 
duties  are,  to  smoke,  find  fault  with  everything,  and  spin 
his  endless  yarns.  When  the  yacht  is  laid  up,  he  is  one  of 
her  watchmen ;  and  many  a  time  in  the  winter,  he  rides 
up  to  Hartley's  house  to  puff  his  pig-tail  in  the  basement, 
and  regale  the  wondering  Bridgets  with  tales  of  the  sea. 
They  think  that  Thomas  ap  Catesby  R.  Jones  must  have 
been  a  very  great  man.  When  Hartley's  friends  see  the 
old  man  in  the  yacht,  they  joke  about  him,  and  wonder  at 
such  a  useless  piece  of  furniture  being  kept;  but  Hartley 
has  made  up  his  mind  that  the  pensioner  shall  end  his  days 
in  peace. 


474:  LOVE    AFLOAT. 

Hartley  himself  stands  aft,  a  somewhat  portly  gentle- 
man, active  still,  elegantly,  yet  fittingly  dressed,  and  with 
a  look  of  comfort  in  his  cheerful  face.  By  him  is  a  hand- 
some, matronly  woman,  whose  attitude  is  unconsciouslj^ 
graceful,  whose  dress  shows  study  and  taste,  and  whose 
every  word  and  look  and  gesture  is  refined.  She  seems  at 
this  instant  without  a  single  care,  her  face  beaming  like  that 
of  a  child.  Her  rich  blue  eyes  are  undimmed,  her  hair  is 
bright  brown  and  plentiful,  and  her  cheek  is  smooth  and 
pink.  She  might  be  thought  too  girlish-looking  at  first 
glance,  but  her  mouth  has  a  firmness  in  its  lines  which 
redeems  Jier  whole  face.  It  is  Mary  Dewhurst  Hartley,  the 
happy  wife. 

But  "  who  are  these,  this  bright  array " — we  could 
nearly  add,  "  this  innumerable  throng  ?  "  These  are  the 
children  with  their  two  nurses.  Hartley  has  a  family. 
From  the  charming  rosebud  of  a  daughter  sixteen  years  old 
down  to  the  baby  of  six  months,  we  count  six  heads, 
descending  in  height  by  regular  steps ;  and  this  is  not  all, 
for  there  is  a  seventh,  a  sailor-son  just  turned  nineteen,  who 
is  now  in  the  steerage  of  a  cruising  ship  in  the  Indian 
Ocean. 

A  woolly  and  gray  head  bobs  up  the  companion. 
"  Want  me  to  go  asho',  sah  ?  " — **  No,  Cato  ;  nothing  to 
eat  on  the  key,"  answered  Hartley.  This  is  Cato  Johnson, 
whom  Hartley  bought  from  "  Mass'  Robert  down  on  de 
Eas'n  Sho',"  and  set  free.  He  is  Hartley's  general  factotum 
at  home  and  his  steward  afloat. 

The  officer  reports  the  boat  ready,  and  the  little  ones 
who  have  been  romping  about  the  decks,  requiring  watch- 
fulness to  keep  them  from  climbing  over  the  guard  of  net- 
ting, are  gathered  up  and  one  by  one  carefully  passed  down. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartley  take  their  places  last,  and  the  boats 
set  oflT. 

When  the  two  lieutenants  returned  to  New  York  nearly 
three  years  after  their  marriage,  each  found  a  lusty  boy 
baby  waiting  for  an  introduction  to  papa.     Hartley  had 


A   STOEY   OF  THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  475 

pined  and  longed  for  Mary  all  the  rest  of  that  tedious 
cruise,  and  had  greatly  lost  heart  in  the  service.  His  bliss 
in  reunion  and  the  sight  of  his  wife's  happiness,  with  her 
entreaties  and  the  precious  baby,  assisted  by  his  remem- 
brance of  past  delays  and  his  repugnance  to  a  new  separa- 
tion, led  him  to  take  a  step,  long  contemplated,  and  which 
changed  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life.  He  resigned  his  com- 
mission. This  he  could  well  afford  to  do,  for  his  pay  was 
but  a  small  part  of  his  income.  He  looked  about  him  for 
occupation,  examined  several  things,  found  none  congenial 
to  his  tastes  and  ideas,  and  gradually  drifted  into  the  pur- 
suit of  literature.  In  it  he  discovered  his  profession.  He 
studied  and  wrote,  and  seemed  content.  Though  he  never 
achieved  the  shining  distinction  his  friends  expected  from 
his  brilliancy,  still  he  gained  a  respectable  name,  and  in 
certain  matters  was  regarded  as  an  authority.  His  courtesy 
and  goodness  of  heart,  and  ability  and  wealth,  made  him 
beloved  and  respected.  His  house  was  a  favorite  place  for 
the  meeting  of  beaux  esjjrits.  He  knew  all  the  artists  and 
the  writers,  and  many  a  poor  fellow  struggling  along  the 
hard  road  to  travel  had  a  lift  from  him  in  cheering  words 
of  praise  and  hard  silver  dollars.  The  babies  who  came 
along  at  regular  intervals  were  very  welcome  to  both  father 
and  mother,  who  loved  children  and  had  plenty  of  house- 
room -as  well  as  heart-room  for  them.  In  the  course  of 
nature  Mary  had  inherited  her  father's  property,  and  the 
steady  rise  in  real  estate  and  rentals  afterward  increased 
their  wealth  and  gave  them  more  income  than  they  cared 
to  spend.  Perhaps  they  were  passing  through  life  with  too 
much  ease.  Perhaps  in  Hartley's  inmost  soul  lay  a  regret 
for  his  abandoned  career  of  hard  work  and  usefulness  ;  but 
if  so  he  sedulously  kept  it  to  himself. 

Garnet  clove  to  his  profession.  He  might  have  given 
it  up  if  he  had  chosen,  but  would  not.  His  life's  course  was 
laid  out,  and  no  inducement  of  love  or  wealth  or  ease  could 
swerve  him.  At  this  time  he  had  reached  a  point  of  small 
independence  by  economy  and  careful  investment,  but  he 


476  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

might  have  had  fifty  thousand  dollars  and  his  liberty  six- 
teen years  before.  He  refused  his  friend's  proffered  gift, 
through  pride. 

When  Hartley  first  withheld  the  avowal  of  the  secret 
burying-place  of  the  piratical  hoard  he  little  thought  what 
a  burden  of  doubts  and  scruples  he  was  assuming.  Naval 
education  and  associations  had  rather  sharpened  than 
blunted  his  sense  of  honor.  He  found  himself  by  the  death 
of  Catarina,  Hackett,  and  the  two  informers  (which  last  he 
learned  from  a  captured  pirate,)  the  sole  possessor  of  the 
secret.  He  never  thought  of  appropriating  the  treasure  to 
himself,  in  fact  that  would  have  been  impossible  to  him. 
His  idea  of  bestowing  it  without  explanation  upon  Garnet 
seemed  for  a  good  while  the  correct  course  ;  but  after  a 
time  the  sophistry  of  the  reasoning  by  which  he  had  per- 
suaded himself 'became  evident  to  his  unwilling  mind. 
After  that,  his  conscience  was  very  uneasy  and  annoying ; 
and  he  once  even  resolved  to  let  the  treasure  lie  and  rot 
ratli^r  than  soil  his  hands.  But  its  ghost  was  not  so  easily 
to  be  laid.  Frequently  would  arise  in  his  mind  thoughts 
of  the  hoard,  magnified  by  his  imagination,  and  sj)arkling 
in  its  hidden  grave.  At  last  he  made  a  business  trip  to 
Havana,  hired  a  conveyance  overland,  visited  the  key  alone 
from  Olozaga,  and  found  the  box  at  the  first  digging.  He 
had  it  carried  by  two  unsuspicious  darkeys  over  to  the  vil- 
lage; there  packed  its  contents,  consisting  of  silver,  with 
some  gold,  and  a  number  of  set  jewels,  into  a  spare  trunk ; 
and  returned  unmolested  and  quietly  home.  But  there  his 
troubles  began  again.  He  found  himself  unable  to  dispose 
of  his  ill-gotten  goods  without  attracting  the  attention  so 
long  avoided.  He  was  finally  driven  to  his  lawyer,  in 
whom  he  confided  and  who  helped  him.  The  attorney 
could  see  no  impropriety  in  the  way  Hartley  had  acquired 
the  jewels,  but  thought  it  madness  to  propose  giving  so 
much  money  away.  He  assumed  the  whole  business, 
appearing  as  the  principal  in  disposing  of  the  gems  in 
Europe ;  and  after  having  paid  all  expenses  and  pocketed 


A  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.        477 

a  handsome  fee,  he  handed  over  to  Hartley  a  balance  of 
cash  exceeding  fifty  thousand  dollars.  After  all  this  was 
done  came  the  main  difficulty  of  all  ;  Garnet  would  not 
have  it.  Touched  deeply  by  what  he  thought  so  rare  a  dis- 
play of  friendship,  he  still  steadfastly  refused  the  money. 
It  was  gall  and  wormwood  to  Hartley,  not  only  to  have  it 
refused,  but  also  to  see  that  undeserved  gratitude.  He 
knew  that  an  explanation  would  not  help  the  matter,  so  as 
a  last  resort  he  set  Mary  to  work  to  persuade  Isabel.  Mary, 
who  was  ignorant  of  the  black  source  of  this  damracd-up 
stream  of  wealth,  who  was  in  fact  ignorant  of  her  own  busi- 
ness matters,  supposed  the  money  came  from  her  husband 
and  herself,  and  generously  urged  upon  Isabel  to  make 
Garnet  accept  it.  The  result  was  that  the  two  women 
arranged  a  compromise,  to  which,  after  some  further  modi- 
fication. Garnet  consented.  The  money  w'as  left  on  inter- 
est in  trust  for  Isabel  in  case  of  Garnet's  death.  If  they 
both  lived,  their  son  was  to  have  it,  provided  they  thought 
him  worthy  ;  and  if  Isabel  were  to  die,  judgment  was  to 
be  left  to  Garnet  alone.  Hartley  was  glad  to  have  the  lucre 
out  of  his  hands  on  any  terms. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  and  the  Garnet  grew  older,  he 
learned  to  think  with  an  ever-deepening  satisfaction  that 
his  wife  and  son  were  secured  against  fate ;  and  his  heart 
remained  warmly  recognizant  of  his  old  friend's  goodness. 

Hartley  could  not  remember  the  transaction  without 
disgust ;  but  time  gradually  blurred  the  whole  impression 
and  gave  him  ease.  It  was  the  only  secret  he  ever  had 
from  Mary. 

The  boats  have  rounded  the  point  and  reached  the 
beach.  There  is  no  surf  to-day,  and  the  landing  is  easy. 
The  men  jump  out  and  pull  the  bows  up  on  the  sand,  and 
the  party  disembark. 

"  Don't  go  out  of  hail^  men,"  says  Hartley.  "  Maria, 
you  and  Ellen  walk  around  on  that  side  with  the  children, 
but  don't  go  far  away.     John,  you  and  Isabel  must  keep 


478 


LOVE  AFLOAT. 


the  little  ones  out  of  the  water  or  the  sharks  may  get  your 
brother  and  sisters  for  tea.  Hear  that,  babies  !  Come, 
my  dear. 

Mrs.  Hartley  takes  the  offered  arm,  and  they  walk  along 
the  eastern  beach  in  the  long  shadows  of  the  sand  mounds, 
talking  softly  of  the  old  times.  They  had  just  been  over 
the  familiar  ground  resurveyed  by  you  and  me,  reader; 
and  you  must  imagine  how  keen  had  been  the  feelings 
aroused,  how  fresh  the  memories  evoked.  Like  us,  they 
had  entered  alone  the  deserted  glen  ;  like  ours,  their  hearts 
had  been  oppressed.  They  had  sought  without  success  for 
the  long-levelled  graves  of  Hackett  and  Catarina ;  and 
Mary  had  wept  to  think  again  of  the  sad  young  life  so 
sadly  closed,  so  utterly  vanished  from  earth  without  leav- 
ing one  tangible  trace.  They  had  found  a  pensive  sorrow 
in  the  place  of  the  expected  joy  ;  and  they  were  still  mel- 
ancholy. 

They  walked  slowly  along  the  beach,  talking  over  the 
events  of  their  stormy  days  passed  in  this  place,  smiling 
with  regretful  faces  at  their  fervors  of  joy  and  fear,  thank- 
ful for  the  present  calm,  admiring  the  evening  sky  and  sea. 
Their  hearts  were  very  soft,  and  under  the  influence  of  the 
scene  and  its  memories  they  felt  again  the  tenderness,  the 
inexpressible  longing,  of  youth.  They  were  filled  with 
yearning  aspirations  for  a  vague  good,  which  they  could 
not  comprehend  or  direct.  Each  was  conscious  the  other 
felt  the  same,  and  their  spoken  communings  died  away. 

On  the  mainland,  long  shadows  of  trees  lay  across  the 
slopes.  The  valleys  were  dark,  the  western  hill-sides 
bathed  in  a  soft  spiritual  glory  of  golden  light.  The  waters 
on  the  right  hand  lay  smoothly  black  behind  the  island 
and  far  out  to  sea.  Two  rocks  raised  sharp  points  above 
the  water  near  the  shore  ahead.  They  reached  them,  and 
Hartley  turned  with  his  unquestioning  wife  toward  the 
centre  of  the  key.  Not  far  away  arose  three  mounds  in  a 
line,  north  and  south,  the  northern  one  being  most  pointed 
and  highest.     They  walked  to  it  and  ascended  it,  pausing 


A    STOKY   OF    THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  479 

upon  its  top  to  look  at  the  lovely  view.  A  sudden  impulse 
seized  Hartley,  and  he  spoke. 

" This  is  the  very  spot— yes — I  must  tell  her.  Mary,  I 
have  had  a  secret  from  you  for  twenty  years."  He  went 
on  to  tell  her  about  the  treasure. 

She  made  no  answer  when  he  had  finished,  but  stood 
motionless,  gazing  away  from  him  with  her  eyes  full  of 
tears.  "  Forgive  me,  Mary,"  said  he,  and  she  laid  her  arm 
about  his  neck  and  kissed  him. 

Now,  friend,  let  your  errant  fancy,  mate  to  mine,  leave 
these  old  scenes  and  fly  swifter  than  with  wings  of  the 
sleepless  sea-bird  over  the  leagues  of  water,  over  a  mys- 
terious continent,  to  settle  upon  a  frigate  in  the  Indian 
Ocean.  She  is  near  the  lonely  islands  of  Amsterdam  and 
St.  Paul,  as  she  ploughs  her  steady  furrow  to  the  northeast. 
We  will  not  stop  to  observe  her  beauty,  or  her  warlikeness, 
or  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  her  company,  not  even  to 
see  young  William  Garnet  Hartley  in  the  steerage  ;  bttt  we 
will  pay  the  visit  we  came  to  make. 

We  enter  the  cabin  of  the  captain.  There  he  sits  by 
the  table,  over  which  swings  a  lamp.  He  is  smoking  an 
after-supper  pipe,  with  the  old  deliberation,  and  reading  in 
a   book  with   the   old   slow  thorousfhness.      His   face  in 

o 

unwatched  repose  shows  himself. 

There  is  the  same  honest,  humorous  look  in  the  eyes, 
the  same  firm  reticent  expression  about  the  mouth.  Here 
and  there  a  gray  hair  shines  like  a  thread  of  silver  among 
his  brown  locks  in  the  lamp-light.  There  are  lines  of  care, 
and  responsibility,  and  thought,  on  his  forehead,  but  they 
give  nothing  stern  or  harsh  to  the  aspect  of  his  good  coun- 
tenance. He  looks  older  and — strange  thing  ! — now  almost 
handsome.  Fidelity,  tl'uth,  and  justice,  have  been  so  long 
with  him  now,  that  they  have  become  a  part  of  him  in 
every  way,  and  have  expressed  themselves  in  his  face,  soft- 
ening and  refining  it  into  a  worthy  mask. 

He  seems  to  grow  careless,  his  attention  relaxes,  and 


480  LOYE    AFLOAT. 

by  and  by  he  shuts  the  book  and  lays  it  down.  Then  he 
muses  until  his  pipe  is  almost  out.  Something  pleasant  is 
in  his  mind — for  see  how  tender  his  face  has  become !  Was 
not  that  a  beautiful  smile  ?  He  glances  about  as  if  fearful 
of  being  seen,  and  takes  from  his  breast  a  little  oval  case. 
He  opens  and  looks  at  it  with  fond  eyes.  Let  us  look.  It 
is  an  ivory  miniature  portrait  of  Isabel.  He  kisses  it. 
Come  away,  friend,  we  have  seen  enough. 

Captain  Garnet  is  a  truly  happy  man.  He  loves  his 
work ;  he  thinks  his  profession  the  finest  in  the  world ;  he  is 
intelligent,  well-informed,  and  up  with  the  spirit  of  his  age ; 
he  sees  the  good  in  others,  and  takes  pleasure  in  helping 
them  in  trouble ;  he  has  a  high  name  as  an  officer,  is  every- 
where respected  and  esteemed,  and  ah  !  by  a  few  choice 
souls  how  he  is  beloved  !  It  is  a  devotion  they  feel.  But 
all  this  is  almost  as  nothing  to  give  him  sweet  thrilling 
pleasure,  compared  to  the  love  which  Isabel  bears  him,  and 
which  he  knows  and  feels.  He  has  to  leave  her  for  long 
absences  of  years,  and  the  parting  seems  almost  to  snap 
his  heart-strings  each  time,  as  if  it  had  grown  to  its  sister 
heart.  That  is  bitter  hard  to  bear.  He  has  to  stay  away 
long,  with  no  communication  but  infrequent  letters,  to 
endure  all  sorrows  alone,  to  suffer  apprehensions  for  her 
safety.  He  thinks  of  the  baby  daughter  which  was  born 
and  died  when  he  was  away  from  home,  and  he  grieves  for 
Isabel's  lasting  grief.  He  sometimes  becomes  very  sad  and 
lonely,  and  finds  that  books  cannot  interest  a  mind,  or  any- 
thing distract  a  heart,  which  longs  for  the  consoling  bosom 
of  the  beloved. 

Yet  he  is  happy,  for  he  is  made  of  heroic  stuff  which 
can  endure  all  things  for  the  sake  of  an  idea ;  and  in  his 
bitterest  moments  there  comes  with  sweet  relief  to  his  mind 
the  remembrance  that  she  whom  he  loves  is  waiting  for 
him  at  home,  ready  to  welcome  him  with  an  affection  fresh 
as  a  bride's.  If  the  partings  are  sad,  the  reunions  seem 
almost  too  joyful  for  this  world.  Deep  in  his  soul,  hidden 
from  men,  there  lies  continually  the  steady  bliss  of  loving 


A    STORY    OF    THE    AMERICAN    NAVY.  481 

aud  of  being  loved,  and  this  is  his  earthly  reward.  The 
sense  of  duty  done  goes  far  to  pay  him  for  separation,  but 
the  sense  that  he  is  loved  is  his  duty-sweetener.  He  thinks 
of  his  lost  child  as  an  unseen  link  to  heaven.  He  rejoices 
in  the  good  health  God  gives  them.  He  is  proud  of  his 
wife's  lasting  beauty,  and  he  is  very  proud  of  his  son,  who 
is  full  of  manly  promise. 

Dear  friend  and  reader,  have  patience  with  me  still, 
for  I  cannot  let  you  go  till  I  tell  you  my  vision — my  vision 
of  the  present  day — to  my  mind  the  most  reconciling,  spirit- 
assuaging  sight  I  have  ever  seen. 

There  is  a  small  cottage  on  Staten  Island,  perched  upon 
high  ground  whence  it  commands  a  wide  view.  A  covered 
veranda  extends  along  the  south  side,  among  the  diamond 
lattices  of  which  there  clamber  vines  in  flower.  In  the 
turf  of  the  sloping  yard  roses  are  blooming,  and  other 
flowers  are  scattered  around  in  beds.  The  setting  sun 
shines  in  at  the  western  end  of  the  porch  through  the 
leaves,  and  falls  upon  the  floor  in  a  changing  play. 

An  old  man  is  walking  uj)  and  down  this  veranda, 
into  the  sunshine  and  back  in  the  shade,  with  a  slow  but 
firm  step.  There  is  a  reminder  of  the  quarter-deck  in  his 
methodical  promenade.  He  stands  erect,  and  holds  up  his 
head,  but  he  is  lost  in  thought  and  is  looking  at  nothing. 
His  hair  is  as  white  as  snow,  but  abundant  and  beautiful, 
making  me  think  of  a  crown  given  for  a  long  life's  purity. 
His  eyes  are  bright  and  clear  like  a  young  man's,  and  his 
cheek  is  still  touched  with  a  ruddy  tinge.  Seams  and  fur- 
rows run  all  over  it,  but  there  is  no  mean  line  among  them 
all,  for  time  has  truly  marked  his  face  w^ith  what  it  found 
within.  It  is  old  Admiral  Garnet.  At  eighty-two  he  is 
still  a  healthy  vigorous  man,  and  his  wife  at  seventy-four  is 
as  hale  and  sprightly  as  himself.  They  have  to  be  careful 
at  their  age  to  keep  free  from  aches  and  pains,  but  they 
take  the  care  and  live  in  comfort.  They  can  still  enjoy 
food,  and  have  the  sense  of  sight  so  well  preserved  thatout- 
21 


482  LOVE  AFLOAT. 

Bide  nature  still  gives  them  pleasure.  They  sleep  sweetly 
and  soundly,  though  with  the  frequent  awakenings  of  age. 
Sometimes  in  the  night  he  will  involuntarily  put  out  his 
hand  to  feel  if  she  is  there  by  his  side,  thinking  half  dream- 
ingly  at  first  that  he  is  away  from  her  at  sea. 

These  two  are  an  enviable  pair  even  in  their  far  ad- 
vanced years.  They  love  each  other  with  a  devotion  touch- 
ing to  see,  and  they  can  never  be  happy  many  hours  apart. 
Though  so  old  they  are  not  weary  with  life,  for  they  have 
used  its  joys  without  waste  or  cloying,  without  untimely 
weakening  the  powers  of  pleasure.  Each  has  been  so  busy 
in  faithful  work  that  they  have  hardly  known  ennui.  Still 
with  all  persons  they  can  sympathize,  and  for  "  every  inter- 
est they  have  a  sense,"  still  they  watch  the  onward  move- 
ment of  the  world,  still  do  they  love. 

Yet,  while  life  is  pleasant,  they  have  not  any  fear  of 
death.  With  a  perfect  trust  in  their  Saviour,  they  cling  to 
his  guiding  hand,  ready  to  ford  unshrinkingly  the  shallow 
mist-enshrouded  streamlet  which  lies  between  them  and  the 
next  land  whenever  he  shall  lead  them  to  the  water's  edge. 
Contented  with  the  world,  they  have  for  themselves  but 
one  prayer— that  they  may  leave  it  together. 

But  listen !  a  prattle  of  young  voices  mingled  with 
older  tones  comes  from  within.  The  old  admiral  stops  in 
his  walk  and  turns  with  a  pleased  look.  A  swarm  of  merry 
little  ones  rush  out  and  precipitate  themselves  on  grandpa 
with  various  tales  to  tell  him  and  requests  to  make.  Grand- 
ma follows  serenely  smiling,  more  beautiful  than  ever  with 
the  loveliness  of  a  sweet  old  age  ;  and  then  comes  Mr.  Gar- 
net, the  eminent  lawyer,  with  his  dovelike  little  wife. 

They  all  sit  down  on  the  steps,  and  the  children  cluster 
thick  around  their  grandfather,  each  clamoring  for  a  near 
place.  He  sits  for  awhile  unmindful  of  the  little  ones,  gaz- 
ing off  on  the  bay  as  if  lost  in  the  thought  of  distant  days. 
His  hand  rests  upon  the  hand  of  his  wife,  who  looks  into 
his  face  with  tranquillity  and  fondest  love. 

Ah,  friend  J  when  you  and  I  get  old,  may  it  be  like 


A   STORY    OF   THE   AMERICAN   NAVY.  483 

this  I  Through  such  a  green  old  age,  sweetened  by  affec- 
tion, with  our  dear  ones  near  us,  may  we  too  pass  trust- 
ingly into  the  life  beyond  ! 

Oh,  William  Garnet ;  w^ould  that  a  heart  strong,  true 
and  kind,  like  yours,  beat  in  ten  million  breasts  throughout 
our  land  !  Then  should  our  country's  flag,  no  longer 
flaunting  idle  boasts,  wave  with  the  dignity  of  strength  in 
every  port,  on  every  sea.  Then  should  we  sway  the  world, 
the  chosen  nation  of  the  Lord. 


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By  Prof.  HiBAM  Mattison,  A.  M.,  and  Elijah  H.  Burritt,  A.  M. 

The  popularity  of  these  standard  text-books  is  shown  by  its  sale  of  more 
than  300,000  copies.  Burritt's  Geography  of  the  Heavens,  as  revised  by  Prof. 
Mattison,  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  successful  school  books  ever  published. 

BULLIONS'S  LATIN  DIOTIONAEY. 

BtUlions's  Latin  Lexicon  (now  complete).  The  cheapest  and 
best  Latin-English  and  English-Latin  Lexicon  published.  1  vol. 
royal  octavo,  about  1400  pages.    Price  $5. 

We  recently  published  a  copious  and  critical  Latin-English  Dictionary,  for 
the  use  of  schools,  etc.,  abridged  and  re-arranged  from  Riddle's  Latin-English 
Lexicon,  founded  on  the  German-Latin  Dictionaries  of  Dr.  Wm.  Preund  and 
others,  by  Rev.  P.  Bxjixions,  D.D.,  author  of  the  series  of  Grammars,  English, 
Latin,  and  Greek,  on  the  same  plan,  etc.,  etc.,  to  which  we  have  now  added  an 
English-Latin  Dictionary,  making  together  the  most  useful  and  convenient,  at 
the  same  time  the  cheapest  Latin  Lexicon  published. 

Any  of  the  aJbove  sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 


Sheldon  &  Company's  2'ext-'^ooks, 

OOLTON'S  NEW  GEOGEAPHIES. 

TJie  whole  subject  in  Two  Boohs, 

These  hooks  are  the  most  simple^  the  most  practical,  and  lest 
adapted  to  tlie  wants  of  the  school-room  of  any  yet  published, 

I,  Colton's  Neiv  Introductory  GeograpJiij. 

With  entirely  new  Maps  made  especially  for  this  book,  on 
the  most  improved  plan ;  and  elegantly  Illustrated.  Price  90  cts. 

II,  Colton's  Common  School  Geography, 

With    Thirty  -  six  new  Maps,  made  especially  for  this  book, 
and  drawn  on  a  uniform  system  of  scales. 

Elegantly  Illustrated.     Price  $2.00. 

This  book  is  the  best"  adapted  to  teaching  the  subject  of  Geog- 
raphy of  any  yet  published.  It  is  simple  and  comprehensive, 
and  embraces  just  what  the  child  should  be  taught,  and  nothing 
more.  It  also  embraces  the  general  principles  of  Physical  Geog- 
raphy so  far  as  they  can  bo  taught  to  advantage  in  Common 
Schools. 

For  those  desiring  to  pursue  the  study  of  Physical  Geography, 
we  have  prepared 

Cotton's  Physical  Geography, 

One  VoL    2to.    Price  $1.50. 

A  very  valuable  book  and  fully  illustrated.  The  Maps  are 
compiled  with  the  greatest  care  by  Geo.  W.  Colton,  and  repre- 
sent the  most  remarkable  and  interesting  features  of  Physical 
Geography  clearly  to  the  eye. 

The  plan  of  Cotton's  Geography  is  the  hest  I  have  ever  seen.  It  meets  the 
exact  wants  of  our  Grammar  Schools.  The  Review  is  unsurpassed  in  its 
tendency  to  malce  thorough  and  reliable  scholars.  I  have  learned  more  Geosr- 
raphy  that  is  practical  and  available  during  the  short  time  we  have  used  this 
work,  than  in  all  my  life  before,  including  ten  years  teaching  by  Mitchell's 
plan.— A.  B.  Heywood,  jRrfn.  Franklin  Gram.  Schml,  Lowell,  Mass. 

So  well  satisfied  have  I  been  with  these  Geographies  that  I  adopted  them, 
and  have  procured  their  introduction  into  most  of  the  schools  in  this  county. 
Jaubs  W.  Thompson,  A.M.,  Prin.  of  CmtreviUe  Academy,  Maryland. 


Any  of  the  above  sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 


Sheldon  d:  Company's  2'ext-!Sooks» 


BULLIONS'S 

ENGLISH,   LATIN,   AND   GREEK, 


ON  THE  SAME  PLAN. 


OABEPULLY  REVISED  AND  KE-STEREOTYPBD. 


BUJLI^IONS'S    SCHOOIj    GBAMMAM 90  60 

This  is  a  fall  book  for  general  use,  also  introductory  to 

^TTLJLIONS'S  NEW  PRACTICAL  GRAMMAM 1  00 

EXERCISES    IN    ANALYSIS,      COMPOSITION    AND 
PARSING.    By  Prof.  Jambs  Cruikshank,  LL.D.,  Ass't  Sup't  of 

Schools,  Brooklyn O  SO 

This  book  is  supplementary  to  both  Grammars. 

B TTLLIONS  &  MORRIS'S  LATIN  LESSONS 1  00 

S  ULLIONS  &  MORRIS'S  LATIN  GRAMMAR 1  SO 

B  ULLIONS' S  LATIN  READER.    New  edition 1  SO 

n  ULLIONS' S  CMSAR  /  with  Notes  and  Lexicon 1  SO 

BULLIONS'S  CICERO;  with  Notes ,     1  SO 

These  books  contain  direct  references  to  both  Bullions' s  and  Bui 
lions  &  Morris's  Latin  Grammars. 

BULLIONS  &  KENDRICK'S  GREEK  GRAMMAR 2  00 

(LENDRICK'S  GREEK  EXERCISES,  containing  easy  Read- 
ing Lessons,  with  references  to  B.  &  K.'s  Greek  Grammar,  and  a 

Vocabulary 1  00 

t^"  Editions  of  Latin  and  Greek  authors  with  direct  refereuces 
to  these  Grammars  and  Notes  are  in  preparation. 
BULLIONS'S  LATIN-ENGLISS  &   ENGLISS-LATIN 
DICTIONAR  Y,  the  most  thorough  and  complete  Latin  Lexicon 
of  its  size  and  price  ever  published  in  this  country 5  00 


"  Dr.  Bullions's  system  is  at  once  scientific  and  practical.  No  other  writer 
to  Grammar  has  done  more  to  simplify  the  science,  and  render  it  attractive." 
-National  Quarterhj  Review. 

"Dr.  BuEions's  series  of  Grammars  are  deservedly  popular.  They  have 
teceiveil  the  highest  commendations  from  eminent  teachers  throughout  the 
iountry,  and -are  extensively  used  in  good  schools.  A  prominent  idea  of  this 
series  is  to  save  time  by  having  as  much  as  possible  of  the  Grammars  of  the 
English,  Latin,  and  Greek  on  the  same  plan,  and  in  the  same  words.  We  have 
taught  from  these  Grammars  successfully,  and  we  like  their  plan.  The  rules 
and  definitions  are  characterized  by  accuracy,  brevity,  and  adaptation  to  the 
practical  operations  of  the  school-room.  Analysis  follows  etymology  and  pre- 
cedes syntax,  thus  enabling  the  teacher  to  carry  analysis  and  syntax  along  to- 
gether. The  exercises  are  unusually  full  and  complete,  while  the  parsing-book 
Mrnishes,  in  a  convenient  form,  at  slight  expense,  a  great  variety  of  extra 
drill.    The  books  deserve  the  success  they  have  achieved."— i^iftois  Teacher. 


Sheldon  &  Company s  Text-Sooks, 

BULLIONS'S 

ENGLISH,   LATIN",   AND   GREEK, 

ON  THE  SAME  PLAN. 


OABEPUIiIiY  REVISED  AND  RE-STEREOTYPED. 


BXTLI^IONS'S    SCHOOIj    GRAMMAM $0  50 

This  is  a  full  book  for  general  use,  also  introductory  to 

BTTLIjIONS' S  NEW  PRACTICAL  GBAMMAB 1  00 

EXERCISES    IN    ANALYSIS,      COMI*OSITION    ANI> 
PARSING.    By  Prof.  James  Ckuikshank,  LL.D.,  Ass't  Sup't  of 

Schools,  Brooklyn , o  SO 

This  book  is  supplementary  to  both  Grammars. 

B  ULIIONS  iSt  MORRIS'S  LATIN  LESSONS 1  00 

B  ULLIONS  &  MORRIS'S  LATIN  GRAMMAR 1  50 

BJTLLIONS'S  LATIN  READER.    New  edition 1  50 

BULLIONS'S  CMSAR;  with  Notes  and  Lexicon 1  50 

BULLIONS'S  CICERO ,-  with  Notes 150 

These  books  contain  direct  references  to  both  Bullions's  and  Bul- 
lions &  Morris's  Lati:i  Grammars. 

BULLIONS  &  KENDRICK'S  GREEK  GRAMMAR 2  OO 

KENDRICK'S  GREEK  EXERCISES,  containing  easy  Bead- 
ing Lessons,  with  references  to  B.  &  K.'s  Greek  Grammar,  and  a 

Vocabulary 1  00 

^^  Editions  of  Latin  and  Greek  authors  with  direct  references 
to  these  Grammars  and  Notes  are  in  preparation. 
BULLIONSfS  LATIN-ENGLISH    &    ENGLISH-LATIN 
DICTIONARY,  the  most  thorough  and  complete  Latin  Lexicon 
Of  its  size  and  price  ever  published  in  this  country 5  00 


"  Dr.  Bullions's  system  is  at  once  scientific  and  practical.  No  other  writer 
on  Grammar  has  done  more  to  simplify  the  science,  and  render  it  attractive." 
—National  Quarterly  Review. 

"Dr.  Bullions's  series  of  Grammars  are  deservedly  popular.  They  hare 
received  the  highest  commendations  from  eminent  teachers  throughout  the 
country,  and  are  extensively  used  in  good  schools.  A  prominent  idea  of  this 
series  is  to  save  time  by  having  as  much  as  possible  of  the  Grammars  of  the 
English,  Latin,  and  Greek  on  the  same  plan,  and  in  the  same  words.  We  have 
tai^ht  from  these  Grammars  successfully,  and  we  like  their  plan.  The  rules 
and  definitions  are  characterized  by  accuracy,  brevity,  and  adaptation  to  the 
practical  operations  of  the  school-room.  Analysis  follows  etymology  and  pre- 
cedes syntax,  thus  enabling  the  teacher  to  carry  analysis  and  syntax  along  to- 
gether. The  exercises  are  unusually  full  and  complete,  while  the  parsing-book 
furnishes,  in  a  convenient  fo^m,  at  slight  expense,  a  great  variety  of  extra 
drill.    The  books  deserve  the  success  they  have  achieved."— itfinow  Teacher. 


Shetdo?i  &  Company s  2'ext-Sooks, 

PHYSIOLOGIES. 

HooJier^s  First  Boole  in  Physiology,  For  Public  Schools. 

Price  90  cents. 
Hooker's  Hiiinan   Physiology  and   Hygiene,      For 

Academies  and  general  reading.    By  Worthington  Hooker, 

M.D.,  Yale  College.    Price  $1.75. 

A  few  of  the  excellencies  of  these  books,  of  which  teachers  and  others  have 
spoken,  are :  l&t.  Their  clearness,  both  in  statement  and  description.  2d.  The 
skill  with  which  the  interesting  points  of  the  subject  are  brought  out.  3d.  The 
exclusion  of  all  useless  matter ;  other  books  on  this  subject  having  much  in 
them  which  is  useful  only  to  medical  students.  4th.  The  exclusion,  so  far  as 
is  possible,  of  strictly  technical  terms.  5th.  The  adaptation  of  each  book  to 
Us  particular  purpose,  the  smaller  work  preparing  the  scholar  to  understand 
the  full  development  of  the  subject  ya  the  larger  one.  6th.  In  the  larger  work 
•the  science  of  Physiology  is  brought  out  as  it  now  is,  with  its  recent  important 
discoveries.  Tth.  Some  exceedingly  interesting  and  important  subjects  are 
tuUy  treated,  which,  in  other  books  of  a'similar  character,  are  either  barely 
hinted  at  or  are  entirely  omitted.  8th.  These  works  are  not  mere  compilations, 
but  have  the  stamp  of  originality,  differing  in  some  essential  points  from  all 
other  works  of  their  class.  9th.  in  beauty  and  clearness  of  style,  which  are 
qualities  of  no  small  importance  in  books  for  instruction,  they  will  rank  as 
models.  10th.  The  subject  is  so  presented  that  there  is  nothing  to  offend  the 
most  refined  taste  or  the  most  scrupulous  delicacy. 

Elements  of  Anatomy ,  Physiology,  and  Hygiene, 

By  Prof.  J.  R.  Loomis,  President  of  Louisburgli  University, 
Penn.  Beautifully  illustrated  with  original  drawings.  Re- 
vised Edition.     Price  $1.25. 

"  I  have  examined  with  some  care  the  Physiology  of  President  Loomis.  It 
seems  to  me  clear,  concise,  well-arranged,  and  in  aU  respects  admirably 
adapted  for  the  pui-poses  of  a  text-book  in  schools  and  colleges.  It  has  been 
used  by  the  classes  in  this  University  with  entire  satisfaction."— ^ez).  M.  B. 
Anderson,  D.D.,  President  of  Rochester  University. 

-  PALMER'S  BOOK-KEEPING. 

Palmer's    Practical    Book- Keeping,     By   Joseph    H. 

Palmer,  A.M.,  Instructor  in  New  York  Free  Academy.    12mo. 

167  pages.    Pri.ce  $1. 
Blanks  to  do.  (Journal  and  Ledger),  each  50  cents. 
K.ey  to  do.    Price  10  cents. 

Any  of  the  above  sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  qf  price. 


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